Up and down throughout April, Jamesville-DeWitt’s baseball team hit a dip again, only to pull out of it just as the month came to an end. And the Red Rams did so in the most satisfying manner, going across town and working through an eight-inning classic to beat Christian Brothers Academy 12-10 on Saturday afternoon. This one went back and forth, as CBA went ahead 4-1 in the first inning, only to have J-D score seven straight runs to crash into an 8-4 lead. Then it was the Brothers’ turn, with six runs in the fourth and fifth innings to reclaim a 10-8 lead. J-D had the last surge, though, tying it in the sixth and winning it with a pair of eighth-inning runs as relievers Evan Kimber and Justin Marzella blanked the Brothers down the stretch. Nine different Rams scored runs, as Jim Sinopoli got three RBIs. Marzella smacked a home run and finished with two RBIs, while Dan Canfield, Mason Schoeneck and Chris Lenish also drove in runs. CBA lost despite Dave Anderson’s four hits and two RBIs as Jack Glover and Tim Corapi both went deep and combined for six RBIs. Long before this, J-D’s latest slide started with last Monday’s 2-0 defeat to the Corcoran Cougars. The Red Rams’ hitters never could solve Corcoran pitcher Conor Nolan, whose complete-game effort included just three hits and four walks allowed as he struck out six.
Combined, J-D’s trio of Marzella, Matt Yonta and Max Bregande were solid, giving up just six total hits. But the Cougars used single runs in the first and fifth innings to move out in front. Following Tuesday’s heavy rains, J-D was back for Wednesday’s game against Homer – and again could not get on the board in a 12-0 loss to the Trojans. Marzella pitched and kept Homer off the board until the top of the fifth, when it landed three runs. Nine more runs would follow in the next two innings as Bregande, Kimber and Sinopoli took turns trying to contain the Trojans, without success. Meanwhile, J-D managed just one hit against the Homer tandem of Brent Quinlan and Zach Blanden as Zephan Cash led the Trojans’ attack with three hits and three RBIs. The most frustrating example, though, may have been Thursday’s 6-3 defeat to Bishop Ludden. Thanks to Yonta’s fine pitching, the Rams led 3-1 going into the top of the seventh, only to see the Gaelic Knights get five runs off Bregande and Tyler Kirwan. Sinopoli and Marzella both had an RBI. CBA moved back to the .500 mark (2-2) with last Wednesday’s 4-2 victory over Fowler. Against Falcons ace Tommie Spinner, the Brothers led the whole way through as Sean Lavin and Dan Patane both hit home runs. Luke Alletzhauser struck out 13 in 6 1/3 innings of work before Dave Anderson worked the final two outs for the save. Then the Brothers took out Phoenix 11-3 on Thursday, quickly taking over with four runs in the second inning and six more runs in the bottom of the third. Glover went deep for a home run and three RBIs, while Sean Fitzpatrick and Mike Trasolini drove in two runs apiece. Lavin, Corapi and Riley Dixon each scored twice as Anderson pitched six shutout innings, limiting the Firebirds to three hits while striking out eight. Idle most of the week, East Syracuse-Minoa returned on Saturday, losing to Cortland 10-2. The Spartans scored twice in the second inning to tie it, 2-2, only to see the Purple Tigers get two runs in the third, then five runs in the sixth to put it away. Alex Stacy had two doubles and a home run to lead Cortland along as ESM fell to 3-3 on the season. Bishop Grimes split a pair of games, losing 10-2 to Tully, but routing LaFayette 16-2 as Matt Allan earned a double and four RBIs. Chris Schad, Casey Schad, David Campese and Zac Cousineau each drove in two runs.