Vestal baseball establishes itself as number one in the STAC Metro
· Yahoo Sports
On paper, the Vestal baseball team looks to be the number one team in the Metro division, and historically speaking, has every right to assume that title. The Golden Bears finished last season with a 17-4 overall record, claiming not only the divisional title but the conference title as well.
Having started the season with an 8-3 overall record, courtesy of an elite outfield squad and the versatility of elite players like Colin Fimbres, Henry Lay and Gavin Brady, the Golden Bears seem to be on track to dominate as they have in prior seasons.
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But not without being checked by Maine-Endwell.
The Spartans, who also share the number one spot in the division and also posted an 8-3 overall record heading into the matchup, had a history of sectional titles and a state title (2024) to live up to entering the three-game series that ultimately put Vestal at the top of the Metro division with a 9-3 record.
Game 1: Vestal got the victory at home by a hair
A last-minute single in the bottom of the eighth by Vestal’s Gavin Brady gave the Golden Bears a 4-3 walk-off victory against Maine-Endwell on Monday, April 27.
Maine-Endwell’s first run on the board, via a single by Max Policare in the top of the third, was immediately followed by three runs from Vestal, with Josh Kweller (singled) scoring two runs and Parker Terrell (doubled) scoring one to leave the score at 3-1 up until the bottom of the fourth.
Michael Jamba, who singled to center field, put Maine-Endwell back in contention by tying the game 3-3 in the top of the fifth inning. Both teams went scoreless throughout the sixth and seventh until Maine-Endwell’s late error, giving up a run on a hit to the Golden Bears, who won the first game of the series.
Game 2: Maine-Endwell’s “no room for error” game
The Spartans, taking a turn on their home turf, left no room for Vestal to say they came close. Maine-Endwell’s starting pitcher, Josh Mooney, struck out eight and allowed only two hits and zero runs over seven innings to shut out the Golden Bears 6-0 on April 30.
At bat, Maine-Endwell’s Mason Little, Jackson Buckley, and Max Policare led the team, while several players, including Joey Chesna and Michael Jamba, capitalized on the kind of pitching errors that had the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth.
Chesna had 2 runs, while Lleyton Nytch, Ryan Durgala, Braden Palmer, and Grady Wilson each scored one to put the score at 6-0 by the bottom of the fifth.
Game 3: Vestal takes a turn at letting the pitching do the talking
The Golden Bears solidified their standing as the top team in the Metro division with a 5-1 victory over Maine-Endwell on Saturday, May 2.
Almost identical to themes in Game 2, Vestal’s pitching, spearheaded by Colin Fimbres, relinquished the chance for Maine-Endwell to get a grasp on the game. The right-handed sophomore allowed only three hits and one run over five innings, also striking out seven Spartans and walking one, clocking in at 87 mph.
Maine-Endwell, having to adjust to the decisiveness of Fimbres on the mound, stretched the deficit further with three errors by the bottom of the second, giving Vestal’s Jake Stica two runs, and Canyon Kalina, Chrystian Burdick and Gavin Brady each a run.
Maine-Endwell’s Joey Chesna started something in the top of the fifth inning, singling on a line drive to bring Ryan Durgala home and put Palmer at second, but a fly out to Kalina changed the field and gave Josh Jweller, at first base, Stica, at shortstop, and Fimbres another go at making highlights before the end of the game.
Similar perspective on the games
Vestal Head Coach John Anderson and Maine-Endwell Head Coach Matt Raleigh shared a similar take on the series, pointing to the pitching of either team as the deciding factor in who would come out of the three-game series with the better outcome. When asked about the outcome of Game 3 relative to the first and second game, Coach Anderson said: "not much changed, he was the main factor," motioning to Colin Fimbres. Coach Raleigh called the matchup "pretty equal" as the two teams "took turns when it came to pitching," referencing Maine-Endwell's defense in Game 2 and Vestal's in Game 3.
Up next
Maine-Endwell (8-5, 8-3 STAC) will take on Binghamton (5-8, 4-8 STAC) at 5:00 PM at home on May 4, while Vestal will be tested by Union-Endicott (9-5, 8-4 STAC) in a three-game series on May 4th and 6th, and ending at Pete Sylvester Field on May 8th for Union-Endicott’s senior night at 5:00 PM.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: The clash of two Southern Tier baseball powerhouses | M-E and Vestal