Herkimer Baseball Returns Home From Spring Trip; Put Up Victories Against Frederick CC, MC-Germantown and Finger Lakes CC

Herkimer baseball returned home after a very tough spring trip schedule where they found themselves playing twelve games in a six day stretch.  Herkimer finished the trip 6-6 and hit .327 with 6 homeruns during their first week of play.  Key wins over nationally ranked programs has the Generals believing they have what it takes to return to the DIII World Series.

Herkimer started their spring trip with two games against DI power Potomac State of West Virginia University.  The Generals first day outside would be tough as they dropped two games by the score of 16 to 6 and 10-3.  Herkimer led in game two 3-0 until Potomac plated 6 runs in the bottom of the third inning to earn the doubleheader sweep.

Day two started better for Herkimer as they got their first win of the season behind a very strong performance on the mound from Joe Perrotta who went 6 innings striking out 9 batters in a 9-5 victory over Northern Essex CC.  Lane Potter hit the first homerun of the season with a 2-2 performance and 4 runs batted in.  Herkimer then topped the #8th ranked team in DII Frederick CC, who was carrying a 12-1 record, by a score of 8-6.  Lee Foxton was 2-4 at the plate with 3 runs batted in and Brett Hauber came on for starter Brendan Tyrrell and finished the game with 2.6 innings of shutout baseball to save the second victory of the season. 

Herkimer spent day two facing region 3 contender Finger Lakes CC.  Herkimer got a big 7^th inning hit from Eric Verbickas who sent the game to extra innings and help Herkimer to a 9-5 victory in game one.  A grand slam homerun by Lee Foxton and another homerun by Brandon Jones would be enough for starter TJ Abounader as Herkimer won game two 12-6.

Herkimer then travelled to DII CCBC-Essex and split a doubleheader.  Herkimer got strong pitching performances from freshmen Jamie Barr and Andrew Wixon who both pitched deep into their first collegiate starts.  Herkimer won game one 8-3 behind George Hajjar’s 4-5 performance at the plate.  Herkimer left bases loaded in the seventh in game two as they fell 5-3.

Herkimer travelled on Saturday to Montgomery College Germantown who was coming off a second place finish in the DIII World Series last season.  Germantown who is ranked #5 by the NJCAA took game one 6-3 behind ace pitcher Tyler Klitsch.  Herkimer led 1-0 in the 6^th inning when Germantown finally got to starter Andy Eggleston and plated 6 runs.  Herkimer then rode the outstanding pitching performance of Kris Barone as he pitched a complete game and won 7-0 in game two.  Barone shutdown the Germantown offense with 9 strikeouts and allowed only 3 walks with 4 hits.  George Hajjar had a key grand slam homerun in the fifth inning to carry the Generals at the plate.

Herkimer finished their trip in Northampton, PA where a much improved Northampton CC team swept a doubleheader 7-2 and 5-3.  Herkimer’s first game in New York is scheduled for March 30^th at Fulton Montgomery CC and host the Raiders at home on April 1^st.