Season ends with loss to Wolves in World Series

KINSTON, NC – Playing in their first doubleheader of the NJCAA DIII World Series, the Herkimer Generals baseball team was unable to advance to the semifinals against Tyler Community College Tuesday (5/26), losing to Joliet Junior College 11-0, in five innings.

Herkimer (48-6) was unable to string together anything against starter Brennan Polcyn, tallying two hits from Taishi Terashima (Hiranai, Japan) and Jake Rouse (Milford, CT). Their best chance to score any runs was in the second after Christian Malave (Milford, CT) was hit by a pitch and Rouse singled, giving the Generals first and third with one out. Chris Rave (Middletown, NY) and Matt Lichtman (Smithtown, NY) proceeded to fly out, ending the threat with Joliet up 1-0, watching the Wolves take the lead on a sacrifice after an error by Tyler Phillips (Hancock, NY) set the team up with runners on first and third and no outs in the inning.

Joliet eventually knocked out starter Chad Sinko (Cohoes, NY) in the third inning when they broke the game open, scoring eight runs (9-0). The Wolves got the leadoff runner on in every inning but one, using multiple hit-and-runs to open up holes in the defense, which paid off, getting multiple ground balls to find the outfield. Sinko finished the game allowing five runs on four hits in two innings pitched.

Brandon Nylin (Hyde Park, NY) and Will Apps (Cicero, NY) followed in relief. Nylin allowed four earned runs on four hits in 1/3 innings pitched and Apps allowed two earned runs on three hits in 2 2/3.

With the loss, Herkimer finished third in the tournament, just like they did one season ago. It was first time the Generals had gone to the World Series in back-to-back seasons.    

Score:

Joliet Wolves 11, Herkimer Generals 0

Wolves 108 02 – 11 11 0

Generals 000 00 – 0 2 2

WP: Brennan Polcyn (4-2) LP: Chad Sinko (4-2) 2B: Wolves 1 (Condon); 3B: Joliet 1 (Drada); HR: Wolves 1 (Sessler); RBI: Joliet 11 (Hill 4, Sessler 3, Condon 2, Trager, Duschene); Records: Herkimer 27-1, 48-6 Joliet 17-7, 38-24

-Giorgio Varlaro