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Lori Brown | Democrat

Fallsburg third baseman Mike Mattarazzo (12) holds the baseball in his glove while Chester’s Matt Balzano tags up and reaches third base safely during the top of the third inning of Tuesday’s OCIAA Div. V game in Fallsburg.

Chester defeats Fallsburg, 8-1,
in OCIAA Div. V baseball game

By Lori Brown
FALLSBURG — May 14, 2010 — On Tuesday afternoon, the Fallsburg Comets hosted the Chester Hambletonians in the second game of their three-game Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Division V baseball game.
Chester (3-13, 2-9 Div. V) scored twice in the top of the first inning and went on to record an 8-1 victory.
With two outs in the top of the first, Chester’s Matt Balzano doubled. He then scored when Niko Wong hit a single.
James Goodson slammed a double to bring home Niko Wong and give the Hambletonians a 2-0 lead.
Comets’ pitcher Corey McKeon struck out the next batter to end the inning.
McKeon hit a double to left field in the bottom of the first, but was unable to come in to score because of Chester’s defense.
Fallsburg (0-13, 0-10 Div. V) cut the Chester lead in half in the bottom of the second. Jim Bertholf singled and stole second base moments later. Evan Luczyski singled up the right field line to score Bertholf.
Chester pitcher Quinn Marshall retired the next two batters to end the inning.
The Hambletonians added several runs in the top of the third.  Goodson hit the ball over the left field fence for a three-run home run. Anthony Ognibene slammed a double and scored when Brandon Rooney reached base by hitting a shallow pop fly. Ognibene’s run gave Chester a 6-1 lead.
Chester scored a run in the top of the fourth as Niko Wong drove in Balzano.
The Hambletonians played great defense in the bottom of the fourth to retain their 7-1 advantage.
McKeon recorded two strikeouts in the top of the fifth, but Chester took an 8-1 lead as Ognibene hit a double and crossed home plate on an error.
After holding the Hambletonians scoreless in the top of the sixth, the Comets attempted to rally in the bottom of the frame. Zach Ingber, Bertholf and Mike Mattarazzo each hit a single to load the bases with one out.
But Chester recorded two outs while preventing any of those baserunners from scoring to preserve its seven-run lead.
Fallsburg catcher Quinn Jackson, who is an eighth-grader, took over on the mound to start the top of the seventh and struck out all three batters he faced.
“We had a bunch of hits, but couldn’t piece them together,” Fallsburg Assistant Coach Jeff O’Neill said. “Chester was fortunate enough to get good hits.
“Starting pitcher Corey McKeon pitched pretty well, but the defense let him down a little,” O’Neill added.
The Comets and Hambletonians were scheduled to complete their series yesterday afternoon in Chester.
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