By Ted Waddell
LIBERTY — April 13, 2007 — Sometimes chipping away just doesn’t cut it.
After the visiting Cornwall Dragons scored six runs in the top of the first inning of Wednesday’s non-league baseball game, the Liberty coaching staff tried to rally the Indians with shouts of “Let’s keep chipping away at it.”
But those words of encouragement came up a bit short as Cornwall (2-2) went on to post a 16-4 win.
Liberty (0-1) rallied with a run in the bottom of the first frame, and the score remained 6-1 in the Dragons’ favor for the next three innings.
Cornwall scored four runs in the fourth inning and four more in the fifth inning to extend its lead. The Dragons closed out their scoring by adding two runs in the seventh.
Liberty sent one runner across the plate in each of the last three frames.
Justin Green started for the Indians on the mound. He pitched three innings until he was relieved by Kelly Hamlin, who pitched two innings. Jon Snyder (1/3 of an inning) and Abi Rubio (1 and 2/3 innings) were the final two pitchers of the afternoon for the Indians.
Justin Katz paced the Liberty offense with three hits, one of which was a double.
Brian Adams was the starting pitcher for Cornwall and was later replaced by Kevin Aribeiro. Adams earned the victory, however.
Lou DeEsposito racked up three doubles and four RBIs for the Dragons.
“I think we’ll be OK,” said Liberty Coach John Wilhelm, who is in his second year of guiding the Indians. “Today was a little rough, but we were just trying to get a look at some guys.”
Last year, the Indians finished with a record of 5-10.
“We’re trying to turn that around,” Wilhelm said.