Cannoneers Sweep Four Game Series vs. Ottawa Knights improving to 5-0 this fall

The Cannoneers for the first time this fall did not have to battle weather. In previous weekend games versus Clarkson University and the Ontario Athletics travel team were cancelled due to rain. With the fall weather in the 70's, the Cannoneers hosted the Ottawa Knights at the Watertown Fairgrounds for a four game series with a doubleheader on Saturday and Sunday. The Ottawa Knights, based out of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada are a premier competitive baseball program with five age level teams ranging from 14-Under to 18-Under. The Knights play a spring and summer schedule up and down the east coast along with their Canadian schedule.

In game one, the Cannoneers would capture a 10-3 victory even though they were out hit by Ottawa 8 to 6. Ottawa plated two runs in the top of the first inning to take an early two run lead. Jefferson answered right back scoring three runs in the bottom half taking a one run lead. Sophomore Yonnelle Firebrace (Whitby, Ontario) led off the bottom half with a triple, then freshmen Michael Espino (Bronx, NY) scored Firebrace on a fielder's choice. With one out freshmen Gage Walsh (Palm Bay, FL) doubled, sophomore Edward Corniel (Bronx, NY) walked, and sophomore Zachery Parrila (Shoreham, NY) was hit to load the bases. With the bases loaded, and error and another fielder's choice RBI by sophomore catcher Jason Pastuizaca (Bronx, NY) the Cannoneers took a 3-2 lead into the top of the second and would lead for the rest of the contest. Walsh would finish the day going 3-3, 2 runs scored, 1 double, and 5 RBI. On the mound, four freshmen pitchers Matthew Villalobos (Bronx, NY), Jordan Markle (Toronto, Ontario), George Amalvert (Manhattan, NY), and Troy Randall (Adams Center, NY) would all combine for fourteen strikeouts to only four walks.

Game two was a come from behind victory the Cannoneers with the final score of 5-4. The game was tied 2-2 going into the top of the fourth when Ottawa scored two taking a 4-2 lead. The Cannoneers would answer right away in the bottom of the fourth cutting the lead in half by adding a run on fielder's choice RBI from sophomore outfielder Mathew Ardizzi (Toronto, Ontario). Jefferson would take the lead in the bottom of the fifth plating two runs on another fielder's choice from freshmen infielder Ormi Fermin (Bronx, NY) and a sacrifice fly from freshmen catcher Daren Palmer (West Haverstraw, NY). Offensively both Gabriel Castillo (Bronx, NY) and Joshua Concepcion (Bronx, NY) contributed two hits apiece. On the mound, sophomore pitcher Tyler Stround (Warsaw, NY) pitched two innings striking out two. Freshmen pitcher Joshua Meizlik (Sandy Creek, NY) would pitch the seventh earning the save striking out two.

Game three was all Cannoneers winning 10-0 in five innings. Jefferson got on the board early in the bottom of the first with a pair of RBI singles from freshmen John Andrews (Vestal, NY) and Nathan Carinci (Oneida, NY). Offensively Andrews would finish 3-3 and 4 RBI, and Carinci was 2-3 with the RBI. On the mound three pitchers combined, Al Davis (Watertown, NY), Christian Widrick (Beaver River, NY), and Connor Fayle (Lowville, NY) would only surrender three hits while walking just one.

Late offense by the Cannoneers would complete the sweep with a 9-3 victory scoring six runs in the last two innings. The game was tied 3-3 going into the bottom of the fifth when the Cannoneers scored twice on RBI singles from freshmen catcher Zachary Catlin (Central Square, NY) and Gage Walsh (Palm Bay, FL). Jefferson added four more runs in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single by Joshua Concepcion (Bronx, NY) and a two RBI single from sophomore outfielder Toure Parpit-Sinclair (Pickering, Ontario). On the mound seven pitchers would combine for just allowing four hits and zero earned runs scored. Sophomore pitchers Adrian Fittock (Melbourne, Australia) and Christian Jorden (Watertown, NY) would pitch a scoreless and hitless inning each.

The four game sweep improves the Cannoneers fall record to 5-0. There is just two weeks left of the fall season with their annual Alumni game scheduled for Saturday October 3^rd at 1pm at the Watertown Fairgrounds. The Alumni game will be their final home game of the fall season as the Cannoneers then will travel to Syracuse, NY to close out the fall with a double header at Mid-State Conference rival Onondaga on Friday October 9^th.