Baseball Wins Season Opener, Defeating Wilmington 7-3
LANTANA, Fla. (March 5, 2010) – A four-run first inning and a strong pitching performance propelled the C.W. Post baseball team past Wilmington College, 7-3, on Friday afternoon at the Santa Luces Athletic Complex.
The Pioneers win their season opener and stand at 1-0 overall, while Wilmington drops to 4-2 on the season.
The Pioneers set the tone early as the Wildcats loaded the bases with only one out in the top of the first, but a diving stop by senior first baseman Brian Anderson (Nesconset, N.Y.) started a 3-2-5 double play that ended the inning with no damage.
C.W. Post started out swinging the hot bats almost immediately as Zack Graczyk (Carmel, N.Y.) worked a leadoff walk and Bryan Bonin (Commack, N.Y.) doubled down the left field line to put runners in scoring position. A failed pickoff attempt plated Graczyk and moved Bonin to third. After a walk Anderson, freshman catcher Anthony Corona (Carmel, N.Y.) singled up the middle to drive in another run and move Anderson to third base. Sophomore designated hitter Eddie Bartley (Bethpage, N.Y.) picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice groundout to second base, and would come around to score as Kevin Chenicek (Levittown, N.Y.) and Kyle Dean (Southbury, Conn.) roped back-to-back singles.
The Pioneers would pick up another run in the second as Graczyk led off once again with a walk and came around to score on a Bonin double down the left field line.
Senior starter Bobby Kay (Stony Brook, N.Y.) kept the Wildcats off the board until he was touched for a run in the fifth inning. Senior reliever Brian Saldana (Deer Park, N.Y.) was equally strong in relief, throwing a shutout sixth and seventh inning. Wilmington mounted a comeback in the eighth inning as they were able to take advantage of shaky Pioneer defense to score two runs, drawing the score to a close 5-3 ballgame.
However, the Pioneers answered back with two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Graczyk and freshman second baseman Casey McKay (North Massapequa, N.Y.) pulled a double steal and the Wilmington catcher's throw sailed into left field, allowing Graczyk to score easily. Senior right fielder Mike Callaghan (East Meadow, N.Y.) then singled up the middle to plate McKay.
Senior pitcher Pete Budkevics (Deer Park, N.Y.) sealed off the victory by striking out the side in the ninth inning.
The final line for Kay, who picked up the win, was 5.0 innings pitched, giving up one run on six hits, walking two and striking out four. Saldana tossed three innings and gave up two run (one earned) on four hits while striking out one and walking one.
Offensively, the Pioneers were led by Bonin's 2-for-5 effort, complete with an RBI a run scored. Dean was 2-for- with an RBI, and Graczyk scored three runs on the day.
Jordan Oncay, Brian Short, and Donnie Witte each had two hits for Wilmington, and Steve Messick took the loss for the Wildcats with 5.0 innings of work, allowing five runs on nine hits and three walks.
The Pioneers continue their spring trip at the Palm Beach Challenge as they face off against Concordia College at 10 a.m. at Lynn University, then play Dominican College in the nightcap at the Santa Luces Complex at 5:30 p.m.