Neuqua Valley runs win streak to 10 with sweep
When rivals get together, regardless of sport, it’s not always going to be a thriller. But it’s sure entertaining when it does.
Game 1 of Saturday’s Waubonsie Valley at Neuqua Valley baseball doubleheader went down to the wire. Senior Nick Blackburn’s two-out single to center brought home Jeff Evak in the bottom of the seventh for a 3-2 victory.
Neuqua Valley extended its winning streak to 10 games with a 1-0 victory in Game 2.
“I was looking for a pitch to hit. The count was 2-0 and I thought a fastball was coming and I took it up the middle,” Blackburn said.
Neuqua (25-7, 19-3 Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division) started its big inning with Evak’s one-out double to the left-center-field fence. Tanner Giesel hung tough to a 3-2 count before walking.
Dylan Goss then blasted one that ricocheted off Waubonsie starting pitcher Mitch Stefani’s glove. Stefani made a nice recovery to throw Goss out at first, but Giesel and Evak moved up a base, setting the stage for Blackburn’s winning hit.
“It felt good (getting the winning hit). They’re our rivals and it’s a big game. But I was glad to get it for David (Gerber). He pitched his heart out and got the win,” Blackburn said.
Gerber went the distance in moving to 7-0 on the season. He allowed six hits and struck out seven.
Neuqua reached the scoreboard first in its half of the third. Jack Amaro got his second hit of the contest, a single to left, to lead things off. Evak then walked. Giesel singled to center to bring home Amaro and Goss also singled to center to plate Giesel.
After that inning Stefani allowed just one hit until the seventh. He gave up a total of eight hits and struck out seven.
“Stefani pitched a whale of game against a team that’s seeded third in their sectional. They’re a heck of a team,” said Waubonsie coach Dan Fezzuoglio.
Neuqua won big Thursday 13-3 in the opening game of the series, and the Waubonsie coach was pleased with how his team responded.
“The kids came back out and competed. That’s all I can ask,” he said.
Waubonsie’s big inning came in the sixth when it tied the game. With two outs Troy Fumagalli singled to center followed by a walk to catcher Tyler Josupait. Chris Dickens came on to run for Josupait, and he and Fumagalli moved up on a wild pitch.
That set the stage for C.J. Lee, who placed his hit perfectly in the right-field corner for a two-run triple. All but one Waubonsie hit came in Game 1 with two outs.
“The team has done this all year. Any team that wants to continue on (go far in the postseason) has to have things go their way,” said Neuqua coach Robin Renner. “Mitch Stefani pitched extremely well. He kept us to two runs (until the seventh). Tanner’s at-bat (in the seventh) is as good as it gets. Nick was up 2-0 and it was like, ‘Throw me a strike.’ And he didn’t waste it. David is 7-0 with an ERA under 1.00.”
In Game 2 Jon Vlk went the distance in getting the win, allowing just four hits and striking out three. The Wildcats scored their lone run in the first when Giesel’s groundball out scored Amaro who had been it by a pitch.
Waubonsie fell to 12-17, 9-12.