Neuqua Valley rolls past Metea Valley
When you are the Neuqua Valley baseball team and have won four of your last five games and have gone 12-3 during the month of April, using the phrase “on a roll” might add to its already overuse in the English language. But what better describes the Wildcats’ level of play?
Neuqua (15-6, 11-2 Upstate Eight Valley) finished a series sweep of host Metea Valley on Wednesday afternoon with a 4-0 victory over the Mustangs (7-12, 4-10).
“Baseball is a funny game. I think the last two games we’ve been on a roll, in a groove. But that can change at any time. We play a good Lake Park team (Thursday),” said Neuqua coach Robin Renner. “But up to this point of the season, I’m proud of the way we have competed.”
Junior pitcher David Gerber is an example of some of Neuqua’s momentum with another outstanding outing. He went the distance, allowing just three hits and striking out seven.
“He wasn’t nearly as good as he has been,” Renner said. “He threw a no-hitter against Bartlett (April 18) and was just one out away from just giving up one hit against Batavia (April 12). He didn’t give up a run today. It was a pretty darn good outing.”
Gerber sent the Metea lineup down in order during three innings.
“I felt real good. My changeup was not working as well. But my curveball was getting across. We have a great defense and they made the plays,” he said.
The bulk of the Wildcats’ offense took place in the third inning.
Jeff Evak and Tanner Giesel, who had each singled in the first but were left stranded, reached on basehits with one out in the second. Matt Wollnik, who also finished with two hits, had started the inning off, reaching on an infield hit. The bases were loaded for Dylan Goss, who singled to left, scoring Wollnik and Evak.
Nick Blackburn followed with a double to center, scoring Geisel. Nick Iarrobino made it 4-0 when his sacrifice fly scored John McMahon, running for Goss.
The only Metea runner to reach base before the Mustangs’ first hits of the game in the fourth was leadoff hitter Kenny Obendorf, who walked in the first.
Billy Sheeren led off the fourth with a single to right and Andrew Fox later connected on a basehit with two outs, but nothing came off it.
Gunner Vega singled in the fifth and Ben Doiron walked in the seventh for the rest of Metea’s scoring chances.
Metea kept Neuqua off the scoreboard for six of the game’s seven innings, and coach Craig Tomczak said when that happens the hitting needs to be there.
“Our offensive approach hasn’t been good the last five games. Too many guys are striking out and reaching for pitches out of the zone. I think it’s a case of trying to do too much,” he said. “Right now, Obendorf and Doiron are the only two hitters consistently hitting the ball hard, even on outs.”