Elmira – The Utica Blue Sox erased a 2-1 deficit and went on to a 5-2 victory over the Elmira Pioneers, to claim the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League Western Division Championship.
Ryan Green earned the win on the mound for Utica, the 4th pitcher the Sox utilized in the title tilt. Mike Klingensmith started on the mound for Utica and worked 4.1 innings, yielding just 1 earned run. Eric Handelman and George Navadel were outstanding out of the bullpen for Utica, holding Elmira to no runs, twice with the bases loaded in back to back innings to set things up for Ryan Green, who was purely lights out.
Franklin Jennings, one of five finalists for the PGCBL Player for the Year Award, led Utica with 3 hits, one RBI and a run scored.
Utica, which improved to (34-19) on the season overall and (3-1) in the playoffs, now has a day off as they await the winner of the Eastern Division playoff between the Albany Dutchmen and the Amsterdam Mohawks, who are tied at one game apiece in their best of three series, which concludes on Friday night.
An Albany win would mean the Blue Sox travel to Albany for game one of the PGCBL Championhship Series on Saturday, returning home for games two and three (if necessary) on Sunday and Monday.
An Amsterdam win would mean that Utica would host the Mohawks on Saturday night, then travelling to Amsterdam on Sunday and Monday (if necessary).
All remaining Utica Blue Sox playoff games will be carried live, right here on midyorksportsreport.com
