QUINTIN JAMES
Staff Writer
After coming home from Oneonta with a series win, the Fredonia Blue Devils looked to capitalize on a three-game homestand against conference opponent New Paltz before heading on the road to face two non-conference teams. With only two conference wins opposed to six losses, the Blue Devils wanted to keep pace in the always-tough SUNYAC conference.
They started off the New Paltz series very sloppy and disorganized, as the New Paltz bench tried to get in their heads by taunting Fredonia’s starting pitchers and hitters all game. Fredonia made six errors, hit five batters and allowed 11 runs. They were embarrassed 11-5 in the first half of the doubleheader.
The New Paltz scoring started in the second inning as they scored two runs to put them ahead. In the fifth, starter junior Michael Wilcox ran out of gas as he would allow three runs in the fifth inning, and he would leave the game allowing seven total runs; five of them were earned. At the plate, the Blue Devils couldn’t capitalize on runners in scoring position and squandered many chances to come back in this game.
After scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 7-2, Fredonia allowed three runs in the seventh that put the nail in the coffin for the Blue Devils.
The second game of the doubleheader only went seven innings, but Fredonia pitcher, sophomore Luke Kuczewski had himself a day to remember. The Fredonia offense could only muster up four hits and two runs but that was enough for Kuczewski as he pitched a five-hit shutout as the Blue Devils split the doubleheader 2-0.
Junior Josh Crocetti knocked in two on an RBI single in the fourth inning and that proved to be all the scoring for the day. Thanks to Kuczewski only surrendering three walks, five hits and one hit batter, New Paltz was off balance all game. The chirps from the dugout were non-existent.
Talking with Kuczewski after, he credited his success to all of his pitches working well and finding a nice rhythm early on in the game.
The opposing bench didn’t bother him like it did so many other Fredonia pitchers in the game before. “Lots of teams try and trash talk from the bench, but it gets me amped. I feed off of it,” he said.
In the series finale, Fredonia came up just short in a sloppy shootout, as they fell 10-7. Junior Pat Sheehan led the Blue Devils with three hits and two RBIs, one being a homerun in the third inning. New Paltz hitter Chris Moran hit two homeruns on the day to lead New Paltz, who took the lead for good in a four-run fifth inning. Senior Jake Horford took the loss (1-4), as he threw four innings and gave up six earned runs.
This loss put the Blue Devils at 11-13, and the team was not looking too well on the surface. Coach Matt Palisin reiterated that the team needed to take each game one at a time.
“We will focus on making the next play, winning the next game,” said Palisin. “We can only take it one game at a time.”
Junior Steve Zaprowski added that it will be a team effort to turn the season around.
“I think that we just have to be prepared well for each game and have an approach and plan with each at bat and play. Every guy on the team is important and it takes everyone each game to get the win,” said Zaprowski.
The Blue Devils traveled to Medaille College this week, and they backed up their words as Fredonia came out and played with a sense of urgency. In a quick doubleheader, the Blue Devils made quick work of Medaille 8-2 and 8-1. In Game 1, Zaprowski picked up his first victory of the year after Fredonia scored five runs in the top of the seventh to stretch the lead from 3-2 to 8-2. All ten Blue Devil batters got at least one hit in the first contest, together collecting 12 hits, while Medaille was held to only three.
In Game 2, Fredonia continued its hit party, as the team tallied 15 hits this time and scored six runs in the first inning to cruise to a doubleheader sweep. Senior Alexio Medina led the way with three hits, including a double and a homerun to lead Fredonia. Freshman Joseph Coene had a two-run double, a single and a walk as well. Senior Matt Wilhelm pitched a complete game, allowing four hits and tallying eight strikeouts, as he improved to 2-0.
The last game on the road trip was against D’Youville College and Fredonia’s offense stayed hot as they rolled 12-1. Fredonia had three big innings as the team scored four in the fourth, five in the fifth and three in the seventh to cruise to victory. D’Youville committed five errors as Fredonia capitalized and sieged an important win against a lowly team.
Fredonia hit three home runs in the game: one by Alexio Medina, Patrick Sheehan and Michael Prentice were all Fredonia needed to get past the opponent today. Sheehan had three runs and four RBIs on the day as he led this suddenly hot high-powered Blue Devils offense.
Sophomore Ben Atkinson was superb on the mound as he pitched a complete game for Fredonia, allowing five hits while striking out nine.
The Blue Devils sit at 14-13 and 3-8 in the SUNYAC conference. With six conference games left, the team knows it will have to keep up the momentum from last week to have a chance at the SUNYAC playoffs. Zaprowski spoke about focusing on their own games and letting everything else figure itself out.
“Right now, we have to play each game like it’s a playoff atmosphere because each game matters now. All we have to do is take one game at a time and focus on how we can get one win at a time. We can’t worry about anyone else, we just have to play our game and hope for a little help in the SUNYAC,” said Zaprowski.
After the next four non-conference games, the Blue Devils will take on rival Brockport in a home series that will have a lot of playoff implications. Palisin knows how important that series is and knows his players will fight no matter what.
“The Brockport series is important. We always play competitive games with them whether we win or lose. We see it as a rivalry, and we are looking forward to competing against them next weekend. Having them at home is always an advantage,” he said.
A series win against Brockport would be huge in terms of the team making the playoffs, but right now the Blue Devils will focus on Alfred State this week and a tough road game against I-90 rival Penn St. Behrend before worrying about their SUNYAC rivals.