AUBURN - If freshman Brandon Anderson is the future for the Port Byron baseball team, than it may be a bright one.
“I have high hopes for him,” Panthers coach Felix Mucedola said. “He's done everything he's been asked to do and more than intended.”
“Anderson will be special. He has the poise to be.”
Anderson pitched a complete-game gem, allowing two runs only one was earned, with 11 strikeouts as the Panthers defeated Weedsport 4-2 in the first round of the Cayuga County Baseball Tournament Saturday at Falcon Park.
Port Byron will play Union Springs in the championship game, with the date and time to be determined. The Wolves' Jim Burns pitched a one-hitter against Moravia, setting up a possible showdown with Anderson for the title.
Weedsport's Justin Rose got the start and went the distance for the Warriors. In the third inning he ran into some trouble, walked the first batter before allowing three straight hits by Jake Bennett, Brandon Dixon and Jamie Cuff. Cuff delivered a two-run double to give Port Byron a 3-1 advantage. Dixon was eventually thrown out at the plate, but the Panthers made it out of the inning up 4-1.
“It was a big hit by Cuff,” Mucedola said. “We tried to stretch it out with Dixon and he got tossed out with a good throw. I decided to gamble on it.”
Rose struck out four Warriors, while allowing four runs. Both teams made four errors in the field.
But the difference was the Panthers' ability to take advantage of the Weedsport errors.
“They capitalized with timely hits,” Warriors coach Nick Wilson said. “We had our chances, but in the long run they came through in the clutch. We couldn't get the big hit when needed.”
Weedsport stranded six baserunners. In the fifth inning, Port Byron led 4-2 but the Warriors were threatening with two men on base. Anderson got to fly-outs to end the threat.
“They had guys on base and had they had a big hit might have been a different game,” Mucedola said.
The two teams face off again in the regular season and Mucedola expects the third installment to be just as close.
“I'm a graduate of Port Byron,” Mucedola said. “Weedsport and Port Byron could play in marbles and it would be a big game. The Port Byron people are happy after this win. It's a big win for us.”
With the win, the Panthers are hoping they can catch a little wind to propel themselves into the Section III playoffs.
“Hopefully this is the spark,” Mucedola said.
Offensively, Cuff and Matt Janusz had two hits each while Tom Giannettino picked up an RBI single.
Weedsport was led by Jordan Stott with two hits and two stolen bases. Pat Farrell added an RBI single.
“It was nice to see Stott and Farrell step up,” Wilson said.“
Port Byron (2-7) travels to Faith Heritage Monday while Weedsport (5-3) visits Tully Wednesday.
Panthers 4
Warriors 2
“Anderson will be special. He has the poise to be.”
Anderson pitched a complete-game gem, allowing two runs only one was earned, with 11 strikeouts as the Panthers defeated Weedsport 4-2 in the first round of the Cayuga County Baseball Tournament Saturday at Falcon Park.
Port Byron will play Union Springs in the championship game, with the date and time to be determined. The Wolves' Jim Burns pitched a one-hitter against Moravia, setting up a possible showdown with Anderson for the title.
Weedsport's Justin Rose got the start and went the distance for the Warriors. In the third inning he ran into some trouble, walked the first batter before allowing three straight hits by Jake Bennett, Brandon Dixon and Jamie Cuff. Cuff delivered a two-run double to give Port Byron a 3-1 advantage. Dixon was eventually thrown out at the plate, but the Panthers made it out of the inning up 4-1.
“It was a big hit by Cuff,” Mucedola said. “We tried to stretch it out with Dixon and he got tossed out with a good throw. I decided to gamble on it.”
Rose struck out four Warriors, while allowing four runs. Both teams made four errors in the field.
But the difference was the Panthers' ability to take advantage of the Weedsport errors.
“They capitalized with timely hits,” Warriors coach Nick Wilson said. “We had our chances, but in the long run they came through in the clutch. We couldn't get the big hit when needed.”
Weedsport stranded six baserunners. In the fifth inning, Port Byron led 4-2 but the Warriors were threatening with two men on base. Anderson got to fly-outs to end the threat.
“They had guys on base and had they had a big hit might have been a different game,” Mucedola said.
The two teams face off again in the regular season and Mucedola expects the third installment to be just as close.
“I'm a graduate of Port Byron,” Mucedola said. “Weedsport and Port Byron could play in marbles and it would be a big game. The Port Byron people are happy after this win. It's a big win for us.”
With the win, the Panthers are hoping they can catch a little wind to propel themselves into the Section III playoffs.
“Hopefully this is the spark,” Mucedola said.
Offensively, Cuff and Matt Janusz had two hits each while Tom Giannettino picked up an RBI single.
Weedsport was led by Jordan Stott with two hits and two stolen bases. Pat Farrell added an RBI single.
“It was nice to see Stott and Farrell step up,” Wilson said.“
Port Byron (2-7) travels to Faith Heritage Monday while Weedsport (5-3) visits Tully Wednesday.
Panthers 4
Warriors 2
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