Cortland Standard .net

GENEVA — A strong pitching performance and a hit-filled inning still left the Cortland Crush a bit short in its New York Collegiate Baseball League opener Tuesday night.
Starter T.J. Peterson allowed two hit as well as two runs, neither of them earned, with three strikeouts and Cortland collected three of its hits to score its lone run in the second in what ended up a 4-1 loss to the host Geneva Red Wings.
It was also the season-opener for the winners, the game between the two Eastern Division teams slated for Monday night at Cortland having been rained out.
“T.J. did an exceptional job,” Crush manager Bill McConnell said of pitcher Peterson, ouf of the State College of Florida. “He had a good change-up and curve ball. His velocity was up. He gave up that first walk, but came right back with a double play ball. He threw 73 pitches and I got six innings out of him. I was very happy with him.”
“It was nice to start with a four-pitch first inning, that helped a lot,” Peterson said of the 1-2-3 opening frame. “I just went out there and threw how I normally throw. I mixed my pitches well and was getting ahead in the count. I got a lot of ground balls and that was my plan. I did that and I was happy with my performance tonight.
“In the warm-ups and first inning I had a few nerves, it being the first game of the season and the opportunity to open up the season as the starter. I felt more relaxed after that. I went out there and did what I was supposed to do.”
The Crush opened the scoring in the second, when it scored its only run. Shortstop Matthew Alberino got things started with a one-out infield single and beat the throw to second on a fielder’s choice by designated hitter George Haaland before centerfielder Grant Hoover’s bunt single loaded the bases. Leftfielder Luke Gilbert then singled to center to score Alberino, leaving the bases loaded. That was it for the visitors’ scoring as Haaland was thrown out at the plate on a fielder’s choice before a foul popout ended the inning.
The Red Wings tied the score in the third. Third baseman Tommy O’Hara fanned with one out but got to second on a dropped third strike and subsequent throwing error, went to third on a groundout by designated hitter Zac Walsh and scored on a single to center by centerfielder Casy Kies.
The hosts took the lead for good in the second. Walsh walked to lead things off but was forced at second on a fielder’s choice by Kies, who then went to second on an errant pickoff play and then scored on a single to center by Alex Rodriguez.
Chris Rupprecht came on in relief of Peterson in the seventh, when the Red Wings scored their final two runs. Second baseman Tanner Ivey and shortstop Harry Roberson both singled to lead things off and moved to second and third, respectively, on a wild pitch. Catcher Lucas Dilli then lashed a two-run single to right to bring both runners home.
Cortland catcher Chris Mattison hit his second double of the game with two outs in the eighth but was stranded by an inning-ending flyout. A single by rightfielder Jose Arebalo and an Alberino walk put men on first and second with no outs in the Crush ninth, but a double play and a flyout ended the threat and the game.
Mattison went 2-for-4 with two doubles for the visitors, making the transition from swinging an aluminum bat for Frederick CC in the NJCAA Division II World Series to wielding a wooden stick for the Crush. He led off the top of the third with his first double but was extinguished on a fielder’s choice. In addition to the three second-inning hits, Arebalo and second baseman Wes Burghardt each had a single for Cortland’s other hits.
“Nothing sounds better than the crack of a wood bat,” Mattison said. “It doesn’t feel any different to me. It feels great to have a wood bat in my hands. It really makes me a better hitter. You get that put-the-ball-out-of-the-park ego with aluminum. The wood bat helps keep your ego in check.
“T.J. and Chris both did well today. It was a good game all around for us. I have played in the last 10 days, but I was really eager to get this season started. I thought we did better job of hitting than the other team. We now just need to get ready to come back and win a game.”
No one had more than one hit for Geneva, which made the most of five hits off the two Crush hurlers.
“We do need to work on execution a little better,” McConnell said. “We had a couple of throwing errors for two runs. I moved an outfielder in on another play and they hit the ball over his head for the third run.
“I saw a lot of good team work. The guys were pulling for each other. We did put the bat on the ball. We’ll now work on situational hitting, getting guys on, moving the runners around the bases. I was happy with the performance no we will work on the little things. We’ve got the first game done. It really doesn’t matter if it was home or on the road, because the guys got their first taste of playing in this league.”
Cortland is off today before visiting the Syracuse Salt Cats Thursday in a 7 p.m. start at Onondaga CC. The Crush’s home opener is Friday, when the Syracuse Junior Chiefs visit on Greg’s Night, in honor of Crush namesake Greg Partigianoni. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m., and there will also be a post-game fireworks display.
In other Eastern Division games Tuesday, the Salt Cats shaded the Junior Chiefs 4-3 and Oneonta was a 6-2 winner over Sherrill. In the Western Division, Wellsville beat Rochester 8-2, Niagara was an 8-2 winner over the Geneva Twins and Olean downed Genesee 7-2.