Troy, N.Y. (WRGB) — Championship week on the baseball diamond shifted to a new format as the Class AA and Class AAA sectional title matchups moved from single elimination to a best-of-three series, with Game 1 offering a valuable but not decisive 1-0 edge.
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In the Class AA opener, Bethlehem took control early and never let go, beating Mohonasen 9-0 to grab the first win in the series. The Eagles entered as the No. 8 seed, two years removed from winning a state title, and got a dominant performance from starting pitcher Jacob Bradt, who threw a complete-game shutout while allowing just two hits.
After a scoreless start, Bethlehem broke through in the bottom of the third with two on when Oliver Hosang hit a liner that barely cleared the second baseman’s outstretched arms to load the bases. Deven Sood then drew a walk to force in the game’s first run for a 1-0 lead. With the bases still loaded, Sam Spector lined a ball into center to bring home another run, though the inning ended with Bethlehem up 2-0.
Bethlehem widened the gap in the fifth. With two runners in scoring position and the infield in, senior Bob Frick shot a ball up the middle to drive in two runs as part of a three-run inning that made it 5-0. The Eagles added four more runs in the seventh to seal the 9-0 win. Mohonasen now trails the series 1-0, while Bethlehem can complete the sweep in Game 2.
In the nightcap, Colonie struck early and often to take Game 1 of the Class AAA title series, defeating Saratoga Springs 14-6 and moving one win away from the championship against the reigning state champions.
Colonie’s decisive surge came in the second inning. With a runner on first, Blake DeFilippi drove a ball to deep left that one-hopped off the wall for a double, putting runners on second and third. With the bases loaded, Ryder Mackenzie hit a ball into right-center that dropped for a single, bringing home two runs for a 2-0 lead. Still in the inning, Steven Thomas hit a bloop between first and second that fell in, and with no one covering first, he beat the pitcher to the bag for a single as another run scored to make it 3-0.
The inning continued with the bases loaded again when Brady Juliano delivered what became the big blow, driving a ball to the opposite field into the gap and to the wall for a bases-clearing triple. The six-run second inning put Colonie in control, and Saratoga Springs did not recover as Colonie closed out the 14-6 win.