Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Jaspers Overpower UMASS

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Jaspers Overpower UMASS: BRONX, NEW YORK, March 18- A five-run sixth inning, and seven shutout innings on the mound from Scott McClennan (Highland Mills, N.Y./Co...

Jaspers Overpower UMASS

BRONX, NEW YORK, March 18- A five-run sixth inning, and seven shutout innings on the mound from Scott McClennan (Highland Mills, N.Y./Cornwall), led the Manhattan baseball team to a 7-1 victory over Massachusetts in the final game of the “Strike Out Cancer” Tournament at Seton Hall. The Jaspers (6-9) went 3-1 on the weekend, splitting two games with the host Pirates while sweeping the Minutemen.

As was the case for most of the weekend, a pitchers duel ensued at Owen T. Carroll Field with neither squad mustering much of a threat through the first five innings. Despite UMASS getting a runner on base in all but one inning, McClennan did not allow a anyone past second base in his seven innings of work. Minutemen starter Jordan Pace was solid through his first five frame allowing just three singles before Manhattan broke through.

Entering the top of the sixth in a 0-0 tie, Nick Camastro (Lagrangeville, N.Y./Arlington) led off with a single to center before Aidan John O’Leary (Portsmouth, N.H./Portsmouth) laid down a bunt single to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Kyle Murphy (Waterbury, Conn./Holy Cross) also singled up the middle for the Jaspers but UMASS centerfield Kellen Pagel misplayed the ball, allowing Camastro to score to give Manhattan a 1-0 lead on the error.

The Jaspers would not let up as Ramon Ortega (Miami, Fla./Christopher Columbus) singled to bring in another run before Brendan Slattery (Danbury, Conn./Brookfield) doubled home two more, leaving the score 4-0 Manhattan with one on and nobody out. After a pop up off the bat of Vin Teixeira (Hamden, Conn./Hamden Hall Country Day) registered the first out of the frame, freshman Chris Reynolds (Wall, N.J./St. Rose) singled home Slattery for the final run of the inning.

McClennan did not allow the Minutemen to regain any momentum, working around a two out single from Nik Campero in the bottom half of the frame. After the Jaspers went in order in the top of the seventh, UMASS looked to go to work in the home half. A leadoff double from Dylan Begin was quickly erased when McClennan picked him off at second for the first out. Pagel would single and steal second to keep the threat alive, but two quick fly outs ended the inning leaving Manhattan up 5-0 after seven.

The Jaspers would add an insurance run in the top of the eighth when Joe Rock (Carmel, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic) worked a bases loaded walk with nobody out to go up 6-0. UMASS would work out of it though as Manhattan left the bases loaded. They would get one more tally in the top of the ninth as Reynolds laced a two out, RBI single up the middle to plate Murphy.

After Michael Scarini (Nanuet, N.Y./Pearl River) tossed a perfect eighth, freshman Chris Liquori (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) came on to seal the deal in the ninth for Manhattan. He would get Campero to ground out weekly back to the mound for the first out before Adam Picard homered to left for the Minutemen’s only run of the game. A Pagel ground out would follow before Liquori walked the bases loaded with two outs. The rookie was able regain his composure and induced a game ending fly out to left.

McClennan (1-1) got his first win of the season allowing only four hits through seven innings walking three and striking out two. Pace (1-1) took the loss for UMASS giving up six runs in seven innings on 11 hits while striking out four.

McClennan was one of two Jaspers named the All-Tournament Team, along with fellow starting pitcher Michael Martin (Massapequa, N.Y./Chaminade) who also tossed seven shutout innings against UMASS.

Manhattan will now turn their attention to conference play as they take on Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) rival Iona in a three game this coming weekend. The series begins on Sat., March 23 with a double header starting at noon and concludes on Sun. March 24 with one game beginning at noon in New Rochelle, N.Y.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Happy St. Paddy's Day

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Happy St. Paddy's Day: (Photos by Seitu Oronde) BRONX, NEW YORK, March 17- All of New York was Irish for a day during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Par...

Happy St. Paddy's Day

(Photos by Seitu Oronde)

BRONX, NEW YORK, March 17- All of New York was Irish for a day during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Lasses and leprechauns braved the snow and cold to see 5th Avenue turn into the Emerald Isle.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Manhattan’s Marathon Men

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Manhattan’s Marathon Men: Jaspers Prevail in 13-Innings over Seton Hall BRONX, NEW YORK, March 16- It took 13 innings, and nearly four and a half hours, but the Man...

Manhattan’s Marathon Men

Jaspers Prevail in 13-Innings over Seton Hall

BRONX, NEW YORK, March 16- It took 13 innings, and nearly four and a half hours, but the Manhattan baseball team earned a 2-1 victory over Seton Hall in the first game of the “Strike Out Cancer” Tournament at Owen T. Carroll Field. Kyle Murphy’s (Waterbury, Conn./Holy Cross) RBI single in the top of the 13th broke a 1-1 tie before Kevin Bonanni (Plainview, N.Y./Plainview JFK) set down the Pirates (3-10) in order in the bottom of the frame to seal the victory.

A pitcher’s duel throughout, the Jaspers (4-8) had to battle back after Seton Hall pushed a run across in the bottom of the third. After Zack Granite reached on a walk from Manhattan starter John Soldinger (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore), Mike Genovese singled to put two on with one out. A wild pitch would later move both runners up before Scott Kalamar hit a sacrifice fly to center for 1-0 advantage.

Both pitchers remained on their game through five innings of work with Soldinger retiring the next eight batters he faced after the run scored. Meanwhile, Seton Hall starter Josh Prevost was tossing a gem, not allowing a single hit to Manhattan in the four innings. In the fifth, however, the Jaspers would break through. With nobody on and two outs, Andrew Gorecki (Smithtown, N.Y./St. Anthony’s) was hit by a pitch and later followed by a single to left from Yoandry Galan (Miami, Fla./Florida Christian). The ball was misplayed in left field by Zack Weigel, allowing Gorecki to score from first to tie the game.

Manhattan would threaten to break the deadlock in the top of the sixth, putting two runners on with two out. Jose Lopez would then come on in relief for Seton Hall and get out of the jam. The Pirates looked to take the lead back in the home half of the frame as well. After a lead off fly out, Kalamar singled back up the middle and later advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Soldinger would get the next batter to pop out to centerfield before issuing consecutive walks, loading the bases with two outs. Michael Scarinci (Nanuet, N.Y./Pearl River) relieved the senior starter and struck out Weigel to end the inning.

Scarinci would work four scoreless innings in relief, including leaving the bases loaded in the seventh inducing an inning- ending fielder’s choice after giving up back-to-back walks. Manhattan also struggled to break through, getting just one base runner combined in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings.

As Seton Hall looked to walk-off in the bottom of the ninth, Scarinci retired the first two batters before letting up a single to Papaccio. After Jacob Marchus (Miami, Fla./Miami Palmetto) came on to pitch, Papaccio stole second before a walk put the winning run in scoring position with two outs. Marchus then induced an inning-ending line drive to center, sending the game into extras.

Each squad had their chances in the extra frames. The Pirates best opportunity came in the bottom of the 10th when pinch hitter Chris Selden led off with a bunt single. As Kyle Grimm looked to sacrifice his teammate into scoring position, Murphy threw out the lead runner at second for the first out of the inning. Despite a pinch runner stealing second, Marchus retired the next two batters in order, ending the threat.Manhattan was then left with a golden opportunity in the top of the 12th, loading the bases with nobody out. Murphy began the inning by working a full-count walk before consecutive singles from Christian Santisteban (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) and a Joe McClennan (Highland Mills, N.Y./Cornwall) bunt single. But Brian Gilbert, the third pitcher of the night for Seton Hall, regained his composure and recorded back-to-back strike outs over Joe Rock (Carmel, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic) and Galan before retiring Nick Camastro (Lagrangeville, N.Y./Arlington) to get out of the jam.

Then, in the top of the 13th, Aidan John O’Leary (Portsmouth, N.H./Portsmouth) singled to lead things off before advancing on passed ball. After two quick outs left Manhattan with a runner in scoring position and two outs, Murphy laced a double into the right centerfield gap, scoring O’Leary and giving the Jaspers a 2-1 lead.

Bonanni, who pitched a scoreless 12th, set the Pirates down in order in the 13th securing the win. For Bonanni (1-0) it was his first decision of the year after four relief appearances. Soldinger finished the day tossing five and two-thirds allowing just one run on three hits, walking three and striking out three. Gilbert (0-3) took the loss for Seton Hall allowing four hits in his three innings of relief.

Manhattan continues their play in the “Strike Out Cancer” Tournament on Sat., March 16 with a double header. The Jaspers will take on Massachusetts at 12 p.m. before again facing off with Seton Hall at 3 p.m. in South Orange, N.J.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Not too bright

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Not too bright: DayGlo Dunces Caught on Tape Beating Man     By Dan Gesslein   BRONX, NEW YORK, March 15- Cops are looking for ...