HERKIMER 13, MOHAWK 9
HERKIMER, N.Y. — Eight, it turns out, was not enough for Mohawk. Nor was nine.
Herkimer eliminated Mohawk’s short-handed squad from the Mohawk Valley Babe Ruth League’s “A” Division playoffs Friday with a 13-9 quarterfinal victory at Harmon Field.
With starting catcher Jason Congilaro’s throwing arm in a sling, Mohawk suited up only eight healthy players for the game. Congilaro’s name filled the ninth spot on the lineup card but he was unable to take the field and an out was placed in the book each time his turn came.
Mohawk, however, did not go down without a fight. The visitors struck for two runs in the top of the first inning, took a 6-5 lead in the fourth and had chances in the sixth and seventh before eventually surrendering on Eric Bowes’ line drive to shortstop for the final out of the game.
A six-run fourth inning put Herkimer ahead for good. Robert Holt led off and tied the game at 6 with a line drive home run that hopped once on its way into the Walmart parking lot. The go-ahead run scored on an infield hit by Matt Migliore and a second run came home on an overthrow on the play. Herkimer tacked on three more runs as Mohawk committed three errors in the inning.
Trailing 12-7 in the top of the sixth, thee lineup vacancy proved costly for Mohawk. Carson Murphy led off with a triple to right field and Chance Homa singled him home with one out. Mitchell Werenczak followed with an RBI-single of his own and brought the tying run to the plate with one out. Pitcher Chris Laymon fielded a comebacker and threw to first base for the second out. With Congilaro’s spot due up next, the inning ended with Mohawk runners at second and third.
Herkimer tacked on a run in the bottom of the six to go back up by four heading into Mohawk’s last at-bat. Laymon walked the leadoff batter and Jared Marquissee singled with the middle of the order coming up. Laymon then struck out back-to-back batters before Bowes lined out to Kevin Palmiotto to end the game.
Migliore went 3-for-3 with three runs batted in and three runs scored. Laymon double, tripled and scored three runs and Michael Dobek had two hits with three runs batted in.
Marquissee had three hits and scored three times for Mohawk. Murphy doubled, tripled and scored three times.
