WEST WARWICK R.I. – In the night cap of Friday’s games, Gershkoff would play Collette Vacations in a winner bracket game. The winner would gain an automatic bid into the Championship game, while the loser would have to win two straight to get to the championship game. Gershkoff would score first making Collette battle from the beginning. Collette would chip away in the fifth but Gershkoff would have an answer. Gershkoff would always have an answer to Collette’s scoring. However, Collette could have scored more than the four runs they scored on Friday. Collette left more than ten men on, not being able to capitalize on Gershoff’s mistakes. Collette also had a problem with errors. Collette committing four errors compared to Gershkoff’s two. Collette also had a problem with Gershkoff top hitter Jeff Diehl. Collette wouldn’t be able to retire Diehl in Friday’s game. The 6-4 win means that Collette now must go on a winning streak to avoid their season from ending.
Collette looked to get on the board right off the bat in the top of the first. Joe Brooks led off the game for Collette with a single to right. However, Gershkoff’s starter Mike Hayden would have no problem retiring the Collette batters in the first. After the single, Hayden forced two ground outs and was able to strike out Dom DiSano to end Collette’s chances.
After a scoreless top half, Gershkoff looked to get some run support for their starter. First Gershkoff would have to face Collette starter Andrew Viega. Gershkoff got to Viega from the get –go as John Razzino was able to begin the inning with a leadoff walk. Gershkoff then showed their speed as Razzino attempted to steal second. Razzino would not only make it to second, but would advance to third as Collette Catcher Nate Patch’s throw to second would go over the second baseman’s head. Steve Beneduce would drive in Razzino as Beneduce would ground out to the short stop. Jeff Diehl would plate another run for Gershkoff one pitch later. After a high ball from Viega, Diehl was able to go yard taking a Viega fast ball to straight away center. The Home Run put Gershkoff in the lead by two runs. Gershkoff would be limited to the two runs as Mike Hayden would ground out and Matt McCool would go down on strikes.
Now with a lead, Hayden returned to the mound to face the heart of the Collette order. After a leadoff walk to Max Perry, Hayden would retire the Collette side with ease. Hayden would force two ground outs and a fly out to end the second.
After giving up the two runs in the first, Viega was able to settle down. Viega would begin the second striking out the first two batters he faced. He would follow the strike outs with a walk to Tyler Collins, however the walk would result in nothing as Viega was able to pick off Collins at first.
Collette would threaten to score in the third. After a leadoff fly out to left, Collette would able to get two base runners on as Joe Brooks would walk and Zach Mittsmen would reach on a bunt single. DiSano would line softly to right, loading the bases for Collette. However, Collette would make nothing of the bases loaded opportunity. Hayden would get out of the jam striking Patch out on three pitches, and a simple ground out to Collins would end Collette’s threat.
Gershkoff began to threat for some insurance runs in the bottom half of the third. Viega was able to force Razzino to fly out to left and Beneduce to ground back to him, but Diehl wouldn’t let Viega off that easy. Diehl would single to left-center field keeping Gershkoff chances alive. Diehl would advance to third as Hayden would help his own cause with a single to right. Despite back to back singles Viega wouldn’t allow Gershkoff to score in the third. Viega would end the inning forcing Matt Pagano to ground out to Perry at first.
Hayden continue to roll in the fourth. The leadoff man would walk, but that would be all the mistakes for Hayden in the fourth. After the walk, Hayden forced a ground out back to him, a Strike out swinging, and pop out to him. Gershkoff would have a similar faith in the bottom half of the fourth. After a leadoff single by Matt McCool, a fly out, strike out, and ground out would end Gershkoff’s chances quickly.
After being shut out for the first three innings, Collette was finally able to capitalize against Hayden. Collette would get base runners on quickly as Joe Brooks would lead off the inning with a hard-hit double and Zach Mittsman would follow forcing a walk. Brooks would advance to Third as DiSano would reach on a fielder’s choice. Patch would drive in the first Collette run with a single to left. DiSano would reach second after almost being caught in a rundown when DiSano attempted to turn the corner and advance to third on the Patch single. DiSano could have been thrown out as Collette still failed to drive any more runs in. Both Zach Perry and Eric Gizeman would strike out swinging to end the inning.
Gershkoff would have a quick answer to the Collette run. After a leadoff ground out, Steve Beneduce would walk and Jeff Diehl would double to right giving Gershkoff two runners in scoring position with only one out. Hayden would help his cause as he would hit a sac fly to plate Beneduce and the third Gershkoff run. Gershkoff would strand Diehl on third as Matt Pagano ended the inning flying out to right.
After giving up the first run in the fifth, Gershkoff decided to pull their starter and go to their bullpen. Gershkoff turned to Jake Ciolfi to keep the Gershkoff lead. Ciolfi struggled out of the gate walking the first batter he faced. Collette would be able to get another runner on base as Nick Gagnon would reach on a bunt single. Ciolfi would be able to settle down and get Gershkoff out of the inning with no damage done. After the allowing the first two batters he faced to reach, Ciolfi responded striking out back to back batters. He then ended the inning forcing Mittsman to ground out to the first baseman.
Veiga would keep Collette in the game retiring the Gershkoff batters as they would appear in the sixth. Collette would the same in the seventh. Beside Perry being able to reach on an error on Collins at second, Collette wouldn’t be able to produce any runs. Ciolfi would force three ground outs ending Collette’s seventh.
Gershkoff would earn some insurance runs in the bottom half of the seventh. After a Collins fly out to left, Razzino would be able to force a walk giving Gershkoff another man on base. Collette was almost able to pick off Razzino however; Brooks wasn’t able to handle the throw from the first baseman as the ball trickled into center field. Razzino would follow stealing third. Razzino would not only reach at third but would score as Patch’s throw would go wide right of the third baseman’s glove landing in shallow left field. Gershkoff would get another base runner as Steve Beneduce was able to walk. Jeff Diehl continued his superb play on his next at-bat. Jeff Diehl would take a 3-1 offering to deep center for his second home run of the night. Gershkoff would be able to get two more base runners on base with two outs, but their inning would end as Rob Madonna would strike out swinging.
Despite being down five runs, Collette wouldn’t go away. A leadoff single and walk would give Collette base runners with no outs. A Drainville sac bunt would move the runners into scoring position. Ciolfi would walk the bases loaded as Brooks would force an eight pitch walk. Zach Mittsmen would come through for Collette lining a double to right field platting two Collette runs. After a DiSano walk, Patch would fly out platting another Collette run. Collette would reload the bases as Zach Perry would reach with a soft liner past the third baseman’s outreached glove. However, Collette wouldn’t be able to capitalize this time with the bases loaded. Gizeman would be striked out by Matt Pagano, getting Gershkoff out of what could have been a game changing inning.
In the bottom of the eight, Gershkoff would try and earn a few runs back. Gershkoff would be able to get two runners on base as Brandon Ruggeri would be hit by the pitch and Collins would reach on an error. The inning would end however with Razzino striking out and Steve Beneduce would ground into an inning ending double play.
Collette would make one last push to tie or win the game on Friday. After a Viega fly out, Gagnon was able to walk, allowing the game tying run to step up to the plate. A wild pickoff throw would allow Gagnon to advance to second. However, Collette wouldn’t be able to drive in Gagnon. Pagano would force a fly out and ground out to end the game.
Collette’s starter Andrew Veiga had a tough night against the Gershkoff bats. Veiga pitched six and one third of an inning, allowing six runs on six hits. Veiga also walked six and striked out five. The man who opposed him had a much stronger performance. Mike Hayden pitched five innings allowing one run on five hits. Hayden walked four and striked out five. The Gershkoff bats were led by no one other than Jeff Diehl. Diehl went 4 for 4 with 3 RBIs on Friday. Diehl also had two home runs on Friday.
Gershkoff manager David Schiappa couldn’t be happier with his team’s performance. “We didn’t panic tonight. We kept our composure as that game could have gone the other way quick”. Schiappa was also happy with his starter’s performance. “He did what a starter has to do for his team tonight”.
Gershkoff and Collette will play again on Saturday. Gershkoff has automatically earned a spot in the championship game. If Gershkoff wins, then the winner of the Hurd and Cumberland Post 14 loser bracket game would automatically earn a seed in the championship game having to beat Gershkoff twice on Sunday. If Gershkoff loses, the winner of the loser bracket game would have to first beat Collette to earn a seed in the championship game and then would only have to defeat Gershkoff once for the championship. Collette must beat Gershkoff tomorrow. A loss tomorrow would end Collette’s playoff run and season.
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