Southwestern baseball beat Chautauqua: Southwest continued its season-opening power surge Monday afternoon.
Southwestern baseball beat Chautauqua Lake 13-1
Two days after senior Jameson Walsh hit his first home run of the year in a win over Allegany-Limestone, fellow seniors Peter Conley and Chase Cartage went deep as the Trojans defeated nonleague Chautauqua Lake 13-1 at Packard Field.
“We’ve shown in the last four games that we have four or five guys who can stop the ball pretty hard. “It’s good to see them come alive after not really proving it last year,” Southwestern head coach Jared Brown said. “The whole lineup is hitting the ball well. From top to bottom, I think we’re doing a great job.”
Already up 6-0 in the bottom of the third inning, Conley hit a 1-0 pitch over the tall left-field fence to score Walsh and make it a 9-0 game.
“Coach (Kyler) Majka has done a great job with Pete behind the plate and Pete has gained confidence every game,” Brown said of Conley, who is also Southwest’s catcher this year. “He worked very hard in the offseason to build the position.”
Later in the inning, eighth-grader Wilson Jenario singled, took second and scored on junior Robbie Belardo’s RBI single to make it 10-0.
“That boy has no fear. He has already appeared in two matches. … I see him eventually moving into the leadoff spot,” Brown said of Janario. “He’s a very wise baseball player for his age and mature for his age. I’m not at all worried about his grade level because he can play with these guys.”
Southwestern (4-0, 1-0 CCAA D1) then needed just three outs in the top of the fifth inning to end the game, but the Eagles hung around as sophomore Devin Hughes singled with one out, stole second and scored when junior Nate Henry reached an error to extend the game.
“Regardless of the score, whether we go up or down, we will continue to fight. We’re going to keep scratching until it’s over,” Chautauqua Lake head coach Matt Cummings said. ” … I was very pleased the boys didn’t just pack it in and they fought to scratch a run.”
Sophomore George Marshall led off with a double and went to third on a wild pitch, but was knocked out at home trying to score on another wild pitch.
“We have a lot to clean up,” Brown said. “I like aggressive baserunning … but there’s a time and a place, especially when you’re trying to close out a 10-run.”
Walsh then walked and theft second before Conley singled with two outs. That left the game in the hands of Cortez, who hit a walk-off three-run home run over the right-field fence on a low and inside full-count pitch.
“I’ve seen it, but not in a game,” Brown said of Cartez’s ability. “He’s come a long way from last year to this year, both in strength and mechanics.”
The long drive scored junior Brody Ellis, who approved four hits and one earned run while walking two and striking out eight.
“It was a great comfort to have somebody come in here, step up and give us five quality innings. I wanted to ride him as much as possible in as many games as we have and not get too deep in our bullpen,” Brown said. “It was his first varsity start and I thought he did a tremendous job.”
Southwestern took a 3-0 lead off Chautauqua Lake senior starter Elliott Reida in the second inning. Conley led off with a single and scored on Cortez’s RBI double. Genario then reached on a fielder’s choice and Belardo singled with two outs before junior Jude Harris hit a two-run double.
Reida allowed a leadoff single to Walsh in the third inning and the Eagles (0-2, 0-0 CCAA D2) turned to senior Nolan Olson on the mound. Freshman Oscar Harris greeted him with an RBI single, before Ellis and Belardo were eventually forced home with a bases-loaded walk to make it 6-0.
“Anytime you give a good team like Southwestern extra outs in an inning, whether it’s a mistake on defense or giving guys a free base, it always comes back to bite you in the butt,” Cummings said. “They know how to drive in runs and they’re very opportunistic with runners on base.”
On the day, Reida, Olson and sophomore Clayton Smith had three strikeouts while walking eight.
Chautauqua Lake opens Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 2 play today at home against Maple Grove, while Southwestern concludes its Division 1 home-and-home series with Allegany-Limestone at Packard Field.
“We’re getting close, clearly not where we want to be. Still looking for a lot of third strikes,” Cummings said. “I think we’re moving in the right orientation, perception that well things happen when you put the ball in play.”