By Rick Knack
MOUNTAINDALE — July 2, 2002 – The Sullivan Spartans beat the visiting Orange County Pirates Sunday in a Collegiate Baseball League (CBL) game.
The Spartans prevailed 3-2 in a 13-inning contest at Baxter Stadium in Mountaindale.
The game was scoreless until the top of the sixth inning when the Pirates scored a run on a Spartans’ error. The Pirates (3-7) added another run in the seventh to make it a 2-0 game.
In the bottom of the seventh, Sullivan (5-11) managed to score two runs with two outs to force the game into extra innings.
The Spartans attempted to end the game during the 11th inning. Sullivan had the bases loaded with two outs, but couldn’t put it away.
In the bottom of the 12th, the Spartans had a runner on third with two outs. But they could not get that runner home, either.
However, the third time was the charm.
Andy Peterson led off the bottom of the 13th with a single. A sacrifice bunt got him to second base.
Bill Reichmann was then walked, putting men on first and second with just one out. Mark Stofko was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with still only one out.
Peterson was forced out at home plate on a fielder’s choice as the other runners advanced. That brought up Stephen Marshall to try and get the run in. Marshall was up to the task, ripping a single that brought Reichmann home with the winning run.
Spartans’ pitcher James Biondo pitched 12 innings to earn the win. He gave up six hits to even his season record at 1-1.
“It was the best pitching in any game I’ve seen,” said Sullivan General Manager Tim Havas. “He (Biondo) gave us 12 great innings of pitching and it helped us out a lot defensively. We have to carry this over in tomorrow’s game.”
Note: The game Havas referred to was the Spartans’ game versus the Pine Bush Bandits. That contest was slated to take place Monday evening at Baxter Stadium.