Baseball Caps Off Season Opening Series 3-1

LA PLATA, MD. - The Finger Lakes Community College baseball program opened the 2024 season on the road at the College of Southern Maryland, a Division II program. The Lakers and the Hawks played a pair of doubleheaders on the Hawks' home field on Friday, February 23rd, and Saturday, February 24th. 

In a commanding display to open the 2024 season, the Lakers cruised to a decisive 22-3 victory over the Hawks in the first game of their doubleheader on Friday. Teammates Lucas Granger (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) and Alex Ahlstrom (Dunkirk, N.Y./Dunkirk) led the offense, each notching multiple hits in the game. Granger, who started in right field, went a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate, including a double, 3 walks, and 3 runs, while Ahlstrom would put together a dominant performance going 3-for-5 with 3 runs scored and 4 RBIs. 

The middle of the lineup saw Justin Angora (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush Henrietta) and Jeffrey Broadnax (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) make significant contributions. Angora finished 3-for-5 with 2 RBIs and Broadnax went 1-for-3 with 5 RBIs, 2 walks, and a run scored. 

Freshman Ian Goodness (Palmyra, N.Y./Palmyra-Macedon) earned the start on the mound, setting the tone with 3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out four; earning him his first win of the season. Teammate Tino Tiermini (Irondequoit, N.Y./West Irondequoit) came on in relief and helped close out the victory for the Lakers. Coming off the bench was Joe Sanna (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) who drove in 3 runs while scoring twice, and classmate Christian Morrison (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) who rounded the bases, scoring three times. 

In game two of the doubleheader, the Lakers would fall just short with a final score of 7-6. Despite the loss, the Lakers had several student-athletes put together impressive performances, including sophomores Lucas Granger, Paulie Goodness (Palmyra, N.Y./Palmyra-Macedon), and Collin Clark (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford-Mendon). Granger would continue his strong performance from game one, hitting a triple and bringing in a run, while also drawing a walk and scoring one himself. Goodness added a hit and an RBI, scoring once as well. 

Clark would deliver a clutch home run, driving in his lone RBI of the game. Teammates Danny Melendez (Victor, N.Y./Victor) and Ryan Mettler (Royalton, N.Y./Royalton-Hartland) had strong games in the steal category, picking up 2 and 1, respectively. Sophomore Bruno Cergol (Rabun Gap, GA./Rabun Gap) worked 4.2 innings, striking out 6 in the game. Teammate Trenton Muck (Lyndonville, N.Y./Lyndonville) came on in relief to help keep the Lakers in the game. 

On day two, the Lakers had a solid rebound from their previous outing, earning a 6-3 victory over the College of Southern Maryland Hawks in the first game of the doubleheader. Sophomore Lucas Granger led the offense with a strong day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double to help set the tone. Classmate Paulie Goodness would follow with a pivotal hit that would drive in 3 of the Lakers' 6 runs of the game. 

Sophomores Danny Melendez and Ryan Mettler were instrumental in the win, with Melendez finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base, and Mettler contributing 2 hits and an RBI sacrifice fly, along with a stolen base of his own. Teammates Alex Wootton (Palmyra, N.Y./Palmyra-Macedon) and Justin Angora (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) took advantage of the Hawks' defense and pitching, picking up a pair of steals. 

On the mound, Matthew Rodriguez (Lackawanna, N.Y./Lackawanna) earned the win with 5 innings of working, allowing just 3 earned runs on 4 hits and striking out 3. Teammates Nicholas Olmo (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) and Aiden Reed (Shortsville, N.Y./Red Jacket) came out of the bullpen to shut down any opportunities for a comeback by the Hawks as Olmo pitched a scoreless inning and Reed secured the save. 

The Lakers would go on to cap off the four-game series against the Hawks with a win. Sophomore Lucas Granger, despite not recording a hit, drew a walk and stole a base to score on an RBI single by teammate Alex Wootton. Teammates Danny Melendez and Ryan Mettler stood out, with Melendez going 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Mettler driving in 2 runs in a 2-for-4 performance. Sophomore Collin Clark doubled in a strong overall effort from the Lakers' lineup. On the mound, Mason McClurg (Warsaw, N.Y./Warsaw) delivered a solid start, allowing just one earned run over 5 innings of work, limiting the Hawks to 4 hits. Teammate Alex Dungey (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) came in relief to earn the win, pitching 2 scoreless innings with 3 strikeouts. 

With the win, the Lakers wrap up their series against the Hawks with a 3-1 record and will look ahead to their spring break trip where they will open on the road against Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute on Saturday, March 16th at 1 PM. Following their spring break, the Lakers open at home against conference opponent Genesee Community College on Sunday, March 24th for a 12 PM and 2 PM doubleheader.