Utica – Whitestown Post 1113 lost its opening game of the 2016 New York State American Legion Baseball Tournament, falling to Amsterdam Post 701 by a score of 6-4. The win was Amsterdam Post’s first ever at the State Tournament level.
It looked good early for Whitestown, as the 5th District Champions jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Griffin Baur hammered a long double into right center field to start the inning and was moved to third on a SAC fly by Matt Parkinson. One out later, Ryan Humphrey sliced one down the right field for a triple, scoring Baur to make it 1-0. Humphrey scored from third when Pat Galer traded places with him following a triple of his own and Whitestown would take a 2 run lead to the 3rd inning.
Whitestown Post’s Jack Acquaviva (10) applies a tag to Amsterdam Post’s Dan Parsio (7) during 2nd inning play. Parsio was out on a perfect throw from Whitestown catcher Matt Parkinson. (Photo By – Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging)
In the top of the third, Zach Wessinger reached on a catcher’s interference call and later scored, as Amsterdam committed back to back infield errors on choppers off the bats of Ryan McAndrew and Jack Acquaviva. Post 1113 held a 3-0 lead all the way to the top of the 7th.
With ace pitcher Kevin Flynn dealing great on the hill and the defense making some super plays in the field, things looked good for Whitestown after 6 innings. Things got even better in the top of the 7th when Jack Acquaviva led off with a walk and later scored on an infield error and a wild pitch to give Whitestown a 4-0 advantage.
Amsterdam, making their very first appearance in a State Tournament, finally got to Flynn in the top of the 7th inning, plating 3 runs on 5 hits to pull within 4-3.
The District 3 Champions made it 6-4 in the top of the 8th, banging out 4 more hits and knocking Kevin Flynn out of the game. Ty Gnatek came on in relief of Flynn and held Amsterdam in check, keeping Whitestown within 2 runs headed to the 9th.
Amsterdam’s Pat Hart (4) lunges for first base as Whitestown’s Jimmy Bushey tries to squeeze the throw during 4th inning action. (Photo By Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging)
Jack Acquaviva started off the 9th with a double, but Amsterdam relief pitcher Dale Stanavich held Whitestown in check after that and Post 701 completed the come from behind win. Stanavich got the win on the mound, striking out 9 in 4 innings of work.
Pool play continues Wednesday and Thursday at the NY State American Legion Tournament, before crossovers begin on Friday. The Championship is scheduled for Saturday.
Whitestown’s Griffin Baur (16) slides safely into 3rd base during 2nd inning action (Photo By Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging)
Whitestown (23-5) will face McKeever Post of Buffalo today at 6:00 p.m. McKeever dropped their opener to Rockland, by a score of 11-8.
In other action on Tuesday, Utica’s Adrean Post topped Clinton County 18-8. The win improved Adrean, which is playing in the tournament as the host, to (11-21) on the season.
| Amsterdam Post | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | X | 6 | 13 | 3 |
| Whitestown Post | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 2 |
