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Trojans’ Bats Come Alive

Six-Run Fifth Inning Propels Southwestern Past JFK In Class B-2 Quarterfinal

Southwestern’s Cole Snyder celebrates his double during Saturday’s Section VI Class B-2 quarterfinal baseball game at Packard Field. The Trojans defeated JFK, 14-10, to advance to Tuesday’s semifinal. P-J photo by Matt Spielman

LAKEWOOD — Southwestern’s pitching and defense weren’t at their best Saturday afternoon at Packard Field.

So the Trojans relied on their bats instead.

Five different players had a pair of hits and No. 6 Southwestern scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to put away No. 6 JFK in a 14-10 Section VI Class B-2 quarterfinal win.

“I have a lot of confidence in our Nos. 1-4 (hitters),” Southwestern coach Jared Brown said, “and for the most part some of the guys at the bottom of the order came in and they did their job.”

The victory sends the Trojans into Tuesday’s 5 p.m. semifinal at No. 2 Royalton-Hartland, which beat No. 7 Gowanda, 5-2, in another quarterfinal Saturday.

Southwestern’s Mitchell Pascarella throws to first during Saturday’s playoff game against JFK. P-J photo by Matt Spielman

The Bears led 2-0 and 5-1 early Saturday in Lakewood before Southwestern’s bats came to life.

Mitchell Pascarella had an RBI single and Luke Heil had a two-run single in a three-run third to pull the Trojans within a run, before they did even more damage in the fourth and fifth innings.

“I was really happy with how we didn’t stay down. We got down 5-1 and they came right in and started hitting the ball,” Brown said. “They knew they weren’t out of the game. We just had to shake off the defensive errors.”

Drew Wigren and Nate Johnson hit back-to-back one-out singles in the fourth inning before leadoff hitter Brian Burns reached on an error scoring two runs. Pascarella then singled home Burns and stole second before Cole Snyder’s RBI double. Heil was then intentionally walked to load the bases before JFK got out of the inning when starting pitcher Michael Nawojski induced a pop-up to the shortstop.

Southwestern’s 8-6 lead didn’t last long as the Bears tied the game in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single by Justin Gerace and a sacrifice fly from Mark Konczal.

Southwestern's Brian Burns is hit by the ball while stealing second base after a pickoff attempt during Saturday's game. P-J photo by Matt Spielman

But the Trojans immediately jumped on Konczal when he took over on the mound in the bottom half of the frame. Jack Brinkley singled and stole second before scoring on Wigren’s RBI single. Johnson followed with a bunt single before Wigren scored on Colin Melquist’s RBI single. After a single from Burns, Pascarella drove in Johnson with a sacrifice fly to center field and Snyder followed with an RBI double to score Melquist.

“We pulled our ace early, but he gave up eight runs in four innings. He was not himself,” JFK co-coach Casey Snyder said of Nawojski. “We went with what we had left, which was our No. 3, and they had (five) straight hits off him. I told the kids it’s on me, but eight runs in four innings and coaches usually take you out after that.”

Heil was then walked before Aidan Kennedy put down a perfect squeeze bunt with the bases loaded that actually scored both Burns and Snyder.

“They laid down two bunts. We got the suicide squeeze down and that scored two runs,” Brown said. “Everyone kind of did their part on offense. I was really pleased with that.”

JFK got two runs back in the top of the sixth inning, but Snyder closed the door in the seventh, inducing a fly out to center field and a pair of comebackers to the right of the mound to send Southwestern into Tuesday’s matchup with the Rams.

Southwestern second baseman Nate Johnson makes a catch during Saturday's game. P-J photo by Matt Spielman

“We’re really blessed to have four or five quality guys that can come in and give us innings,” Brown said. “All of these guys will be available Tuesday. We kind of used them as needed.”

Heil threw the first 3 1/3 innings for the Trojans, striking out four while allowing six runs (two earned) on three hits and five walks. Pascarella pitched 2 2/3 innings, striking out four while allowing four runs on four hits and four walks.

The Bears jumped on top 2-0 in the first inning on a two-run double by Jordan Snyder before Cole Snyder walked, stole second and scored on an error for the Trojans’ first run of the game in the bottom half of the inning.

“I don’t know that we could’ve built bigger, but they made plays to get out of it,” Casey Snyder said.

JFK went up 5-1 in the top of the third inning on just one hit, aided by two hits and a pair of Southwestern errors.

“It wasn’t the best game defensively for us,” Brown said. … “The early start is the only thing I can think of. I really don’t know. We haven’t looked like that all year. Hopefully this game is behind us and we can fix our mistakes.”

NOTES: Burns had two hits and scored three runs; Pascarella had two hits and two runs scored; Snyder had a pair of doubles and three runs scored; Wigren had two hits and two runs scored; and Johnson had two hits and two runs scored. … Nawojski threw four innings, striking out two while allowing eight runs on seven hits and three walks for the Bears. Konczal got just one out in the fifth inning, allowing six runs on six hits. Robert Witnauer got the final five outs on a sacrifice bunt and four fly balls to the outfield. … Jordan Snyder had two hits, including a double, and scored two runs; and Nawojski reached base three times and scored two runs.

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