WHYBL Venora Wins Town Championship

Wednesday, June 18th

Venora Electric wins the WHYBL Town Championship in Game 3.

Venora Electric 4  Mr. Trophy 1

Venora Electric won a hard fought pitcher's duel in Game 3 4-1 to clinch the Town Championship two games to one.  The teams combined for just 6 hits and 7 walks in a game that featured strong pitching performances on both sides and great defense.  Chase Rancourt took the hill to start the game for Venora and set the tone early by striking out the side.  Venora then scored two runs in the bottom of the inning led by a double from Gabe Salomons who scored on a hard ground ball by Chase Rancourt to the shortstop.  Rancourt later scored on a Cohl D'Addabbo sacrifice fly that Mr. Trophy's Jonathan Pedrazza made a great catch in left field.  Rancourt continued his strong pitching in the 2nd allowing just a hit by pitch to Gage Doorman followed by a strikeout and groundout to SS.  Venora added its 3rd run in the 2nd when Tobey Siegel reached on a walk and came around on an RBI double to the fence from Jack Kennedy.  Trophy cut the lead to 3-1 in the 3rd on a leadoff single from Bailey Nemirow who came around to score on a passed ball.  Pedrazza (BB) and Tober (single) also reached but Gabe Salomons struck out the last two batters with runners on 2nd and 3rd to end the threat.  In the 3rd, Trophy ace Jack McGovern took the hill and pitched two scoreless innings allowing only a single.  Meanwhile, Salomons pitched a scoreless 4th allowing just a single and Liam Langan came in to close out the game for Venora in the 5th.  Langan allowed a walk to Pedrazza and Tober reached on an error before Gabe Salomons made the defensive play of the game with a diving stop at SS then got up and fired to 1B to just get McGovern at 1B.  In the bottom of the 5th, Venora added an insurance run on a walk to Salomons who stole 2B and 3B and scored on an overthrow of 3B for a 4-1 lead.  Langan closed the game with a perfect 1-2-3 6th inning behind two more great plays from Salomons at shortstop.

Venora's offense was led by Kennedy (1 for 3, double, RBI), Salomons (1 for 2, 2 runs, double, 3 SB's), Rancourt (run), D'Addabbo (1 for 1, RBI), and Siegel (BB, run).  Trophy's offense was led by Tober (1 for 3, SOE), Doorman (HBP), Nemirow (single, run), and Pedrazza (2 BB's).  Venora's defense was led by Gabe Salomons at SS with 4 assists, Brandon Wolmer at catcher, Eli Salomons in RF.  Trophy was led by strong defense from Pedrazza in LF, Felix Lopez in RF with a great catch, Tober at 3B, and Mateo Maturana at 2B.  Venora's pitchers: Rancourt (2 IP, 4 K's, 0 hits), Salomons (2 IP, 3 K's, 3 hits), and Langan (2 IP, 1 K, 0 hits) and Trophy's pitchers: Nemirow (2 IP, 2 K's, 2 hits) and McGovern (3 IP, 2 K's, 1 hit) were excellent.

Venora finishes its season 18-3, while Mr. Trophy finishes its season 12-9.  Both teams should be congratulated on an excellent Town Championship series, and the WHYBL's first under the new 50/70 rules.

Venora Electric Pitching: Rancourt (2 IP), G. Salomons (2 IP), Langan (2 IP).

Mr. Trophy Pitching: Nemirow (2 IP), McGovern (3 IP). 

Tuesday, June 17th – Game 2

Mr. Trophy 3 Venora Electric 1

Pitching was the story at Wolcott Park. Gage Doorman of Mr. Trophy threw 4 scoreless innings. He struck out 4, limited Venora to 3 hits and got great defensive play from his teammates. He also picked 2 runners off of second base to help his cause. 

In the bottom of the second Mr. Trophy took a 2-0 lead on runs by Xavier Amarat (single) and Jaeden Carrero (reached on error). They added another run in the third when Jack McGovern walked, stole second and scored on an errant pick off throw. Gabe Salomons and Liam Langan held Trophy hitless in the fourth and fifth.

McGovern recorded a 1-2-3 inning in the fifth for Trophy. In the sixth, Jack Kennedy walked and stole second.  After a pop out and strike out, Gabe Salomons doubled home Kennedy to prevent the shutout. With the tying run at the plate a fly out to left ended the threat.

Mr. Trophy was led on offense by Brady Tober (1-3), Jack McGovern (0-1, 2BB, run), Xavier Amarat (1-2, run) and Jaeden Carrero (run).

Venora's offense was led by Gabe Salomons (1-3, double, RBI), Cohl D'Addabbo (1-3), Chase Rancourt (1-2) and Brandon Wolmer (1-2).

Mr. Trophy Pitching: Gage Doorman (4 IP) and Jack McGovern (2 IP)

Venora Pitching:  Chase Rancourt (2 IP), Gabe Salomons (2 IP) and Liam Langan (1 IP)

Sunday, June 15th – Game 1

Venora Electric 11 Mr. Trophy 7

Venora Electric got timely hitting early and a couple of insurance runs late to hold off Mr. Trophy 11-7 in Game 1 of the Town Championship.  Both teams worked through early jitters with a number of uncharacteristic walks and errors in the 1st inning.  Mr. Trophy struck first with 1 run in the 1st on four walks to Brady Tober, Jack McGovern, Anthony Mancini, and Gage Doorman (RBI) and a sacrifice bunt from Mateo Maturana. Venora came right back with 5 in the bottom of the 1st led by a leadoff single from Gabe Salomons, a two run home run to Chase Rancourt, walks to Liam Langan, Tobey Siegel, and Aidan Foley, and outfield fly balls from Zander Boehm and Jack Kennedy.  Trophy then added a run in the 2nd on a leadoff single to Bailey Nemirow who scored on an RBI ground ball from Tober to cut the lead to 5-2.  Venora added 2 more in the 2nd on a leadoff single from Cohl D'Addabbo, an RBI groundout from Rancourt, and a ground ball from Langan who scored on a passed ball to push the lead to 7-2.  Trophy cut the lead to 7-3 on a booming double from Mancini down the right field line and an RBI groundout from Doorman.  Venora added 1 run in each the 3rd and the 4th on a single from Boehm and walk to D'Addabbo to make it 9-2.  Meanwhile, Gabe Salomons pitched a 1-2-3 4th inning to hold the lead.  Trophy then broke through in the 5th with three runs on errors and good baserunning.  Tober, McGovern, and Maturana all scored and Mancini singled in the inning to cut the lead to 9-6.  Venora then got two much needed insurance runs on a solo home run to left field from Jack Kennedy and an RBI single from Eli Salomons to make it 11-6.  Langan then allowed 1 run in the 6th on a leadoff single from Jaedan Carrero, but struck out the last batter to strand a runner at 3B and end the game.

Venora's offense was led by Gabe Salomons (1 for 4, run), D'Addabbo (1 for 2, 2 runs), Rancourt (2 for 3, run, home run, 3 RBI's), Langan (2 runs), Boehm (1 for 3, 2 runs), Kennedy (1 for 3, run, home run, RBI), and Eli Salomons (1 for 1, RBI).  Mr. Trophy's offense was led by Mancini (2 for 2, run, double), Tober (2 runs), McGovern (run), Carrero (1 for 3, run), and Nemirow (1 for 3, run).  Venora's defense was led by Karstian Lang at 2B with 3 assists, Kennedy at 3B with 2 assists, and Eli Salomons in RF.  Mr. Trophy's defense was led by Tober at 3B, McGovern at SS, Nemirow at 1B, and Mancini at C.

Rancourt (4 K's), Gabe Salomons (2 K's), and Langan (4 K's) combined for the win for Venora.  Nemirow, Doorman, and McGovern shared the pitching for Mr. Trophy.

Venora Electric Pitching: Rancourt (2 IP), G. Salomons (2 IP), Langan (2 IP).

Mr. Trophy Pitching: Nemirow (2 IP), Doorman (2 IP), McGovern (1 IP).

Home Runs : Venora Electric: Rancourt (7), Kennedy (1). 

Saturday, June 21st

The Lollipop Tree Nursery School Pirates win the Instructional League Championship

Lollipop Tree Nursery School Pirates 14 Pro Courier Rays 3

The Lollipop Tree Nursery School Pirates beat the Pro Courier Rays 14-3 on Saturday at Wolcott Park in front of a large enthusiastic crowd.  The players on both teams took in a Major League experience as there were pre-game introductions, the Star Spangled Banner, an umpire, their names announced each time at-bat, the concession stand, music between innings and trophies for both teams.  A great end to a great season.  Congratulations to both teams.

Sunday, June 15th

Goldberg’s Bagels win the Minor League Championship

Goldberg’s Bagels 4 Harry’s Pizza 0

A combined brilliant pitching effort by Nick Kane and Cody Brew enabled Goldberg's Bagels to win the 2014 Minor League Championship with a 4 - 0 victory over Harry's Pizza. These two pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts, while giving up only 1 hit and walking only 1 batter.

Nick Kane stuck out 8 of the 9 players that he faced in the first three innings that he pitched. Cody Brew struck out 8 in the final three innings.

Goldberg's Bagels scored in the 1st inning with Matt Ganey hitting the first pitch for a single. Jack Kane followed with a single of his own which put runners on first and second base. Tucker Redden then followed with a single which scored Matt Ganey with the first run. Nick Kane followed with fielders choice which enabled Jack Kane to score the second run for a 2-0 lead after the 1st inning. In the 2nd inning Goldberg's Jovani (Geo) Owen continued his steady hitting with a double but was left stranded at the end of this inning. Goldberg's Bagels threatened in the 3rd inning when they loaded the bases with two outs but strong pitching from Harry's Pizza's Jack Redmond kept Goldberg's from scoring.

Cody Brew started the 4th inning for Goldberg's and struck out three of the four players he faced in this inning. Goldberg's Bagels scored a run in the bottom of the 4th inning when Tucker Redden led off with a single. Nick Kane followed with a single. Jake Samela's fielders choice moved the runners to second and third base. Again Jovani (Geo) Owen came through with his second double of the game which scored Tucker Redden to increase Goldberg's Bagels lead to 3-0 after four innings.

Cody Brew gave up a single and a walk in the top of the fifth inning but settled down with a fly ball out and two strikeouts.Goldberg's Bagels added to their lead in the bottom of the 5th inning when Danny Gallagher led off with a double and scored on two passed balls. Owen Shiffman then hit a double but was left stranded when Harry's Pizza (Anthony Mangini who started pitching the fourth inning) settled down for the final two outs. Cody Brew then set Harry's Pizza down in order in the sixth inning prompting a Goldberg's celebration.

Although Harry's Pizza lost 4-0, fine pitching performances were turned in by both Jack Redmond and Anthony Mangini in a losing effort.

For the second straight playoff game, Tommy (Smalls) Cancian came up with another defensive gem when he threw out pinch runner Nathan Gallo at second base on an attempted steal in the 2nd inning. This enabled Nick Kane to face the minimum number of nine players in three innings.