By Rob Potter
MOUNTAINDALE — July 15, 2003 – The visiting Kingston Colonials and Sullivan Spartans combined for nine runs in Sunday’s Collegiate Baseball League game at Baxter Stadium in Mountaindale.
Unfortunately for the Spartans, Kingston scored all nine of those runs.
That was more than enough run support for Kingston pitcher Kris Bakey, who baffled the Spartan batters throughout the game to lead the Colonials to the 9-0 victory.
Bakey allowed only three hits and struck out 10 batters.
“Kris was terrific,” Kingston Coach Edward “Doc” Norton said. “He threw a great game and kept them down.”
Spartans Coach Jed Carrier agreed that Bakey’s performance was key to Kingston’s victory.
“He did a good job,” Carrier said. “He got ahead of hitters with his fastball. Then he was able to throw his other pitches and keep our hitters off-balance. We were too timid at the plate. We let a lot of good pitches go by.”
Kingston (8-6 CBL) grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. Back-to-back-to-back singles by Lex Redding, Bob Astalos and Pat Baugh gave the Colonials a 1-0 lead. Astalos scored on a groundout by Brian Haber later in the inning.
The Colonials added three runs in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, Haber grounded out to score Redding. After Spartans’ pitcher Tim Gilmore struck out Trevor Bailey, Mike Koches reached on an error and Astalos scored on the play. Jeff Jackage then ripped an RBI single to left field to make it a 5-0 game.
Kingston added four runs in the sixth inning. Koches and Astalos had RBI singles and Dan Schoonmaker added an RBI double as the Colonials extended their lead.
“Yesterday we won our first game 10-0, but lost the second 4-0; it’s either feast or famine with us,” Norton said. “Today we hit the ball well.”
The Spartans’ best chance to score came in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Mike Vichieariello singled to left field. Andy Peterson then reached base on an infield single and Gilmore drew a walk to load the bases.
But Bakey struck out Jesus Pintado to end the Sullivan threat.
Carrier noted that Kyle Bright came in to relieve Gimore in the sixth inning and did a nice job. In 1 and 1/3 innings on the mound, Bright allowed a hit and struck out one batter.
“They hit Tim today,” Carrier said. “Up until today he had been lights out for us on the mound. We’ll try to get him another start before the season ends.”
With the loss, Sullivan fell to 11-13 overall on the season and 8-12 in CBL competition.
“We really needed to win this game for a shot at the playoffs,” Carrier said.
The Spartans return to Baxter Stadium tomorrow night to face the Goshen Giants in a 6 p.m. game. Then at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sullivan will host the Washingtonville Wildcats in a doubleheader.