Myles Malta smacked two home runs, one of them in a six-run sixth inning as Herkimer Post 38 opened its the Herkimer County portion of its American Legion schedule with an 8-5 win over Little Falls Wednesday night at Harmon Field.
Little Falls scored four runs in the sixth inning to take a 5-2 lead before Herkimer answered in a big way.
Mike Fahy opened the sixth with a home run and Steve Hartmann followed with a single. Miguel Rodriguez then walked and Malta followed with what appeared to be a three-run homer.
One of those runs was wiped away, though, as the umpire ruled that Rodriguez made contact with third-base coach Paul Valasek while rounding the bag and interference was called resulting in an out which left the game tied 5-5.
Undeterred, Herkimer kept  the inning going as Artie Zhushma walked and stole second and third base. After West Canada Valley product Alex Maxwell walked, another WCV player Ryan Sheets reached on an error to load the bases. Nick Brownrigg then followed with a two-run single and Sheets later scored on a fielder’s choice.
Rick Macri went the final two innings coming in for starter Sean Tripp in Little Falls’ four-run sixth. Macri allowed just one hit and one run and picked up the win. He struck out three and did not walk a batter. Tripp allowed three hits over the first five-plus innings with five strikeouts and five walks.
Patrick Shepardson took the loss for Little Falls, which got three hits from Ryan Dawley.
Little Falls had taken a 1-0 lead in the third inning as Andrew Goldsmith drew a walk, stole second and came all the way home when Herkimer catcher Malta’s throw to second went into centerfield and by Brownrigg backing up on the play.
Herkimer answered in the fourth as Malta smacked a two-run homer following a leadoff single by Rodriguez.
Besides Malta, Brownrigg had two hits and the two RBI and Fahy had two hits as well.
Herkimer is back in action tonight when it travels to St. Johnsville.