By Rob Potter
LOCH SHELDRAKE — The SUNY Sullivan Generals continued their hot start in National Junior College Athletic Association Region XV play by defeating the visiting SUNY Orange Colts, 15-3, on Friday afternoon.
Jose Castellanos, Jossue Delgado and Stephen Sunday all hit two-run home runs to power the Generals’ offense.
That was plenty of run support for SUNY Sullivan starting pitcher Danny Castro. The sophomore left-hander had five strikeouts in recording the complete-game victory. (The game ended after SUNY Orange batted in the top of the fifth inning due to the 10-run rule.)
SUNY Sullivan improved its record to 12-8 overall and 5-0 in Region XV.
“We hit the ball well today,” SUNY Sullivan Coach Ryan Snair said. “Including this game, we are hitting about .330 as a team. Our offense is definitely clicking. Being up 5-0 after one inning was a great way to start the game.”
Snair also praised Castro, who is a graduate of Washingtonville High School.
“Danny had good command of his pitches early in the game,” Snair said. “He got a little shaky in the fourth inning and lost some command. But overall he did a great job.”
As Snair noted, the Generals’ offense wasted little time in taking the lead. Delgado began the bottom of the first inning by ripping a double to right field. He then scored on an error which also allowed Corey Hamula to safely reach base.
After Michael Gonzalez walked to put a pair of Generals on base, Ariel Tineo hit a double to the base of the fence in left-center field. Hamula and Gonzalez both scored on the hit, giving the Generals a 3-0 lead.
Sunday and Troy Loparco each had an RBI single later in the frame to make it a 5-0 game.
Sunday’s two-run homer over the left-center field fence highlighted a four-run second for SUNY Sullivan.
In the bottom of the third, Gonzalez hit a two-run double to push the Generals’ advantage to 9-0.
SUNY Orange (8-12, 1-5 Region XV) finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Sean Booth doubled to right-center field. The next batter, Brandon Walker, hit a bloop single into shallow left field which allowed Booth to cross home plate.
Walker scored moments later on a bases-loaded walk to cut the Generals’ lead to 9-2. But then Castro got a strikeout to end the inning.
SUNY Sullivan scored its final four runs of the afternoon in the bottom of the fourth on two-run homers by Castellanos and Delgado.
The Colts scored their last run when Ross Abbott crossed the plate on a bases-loaded walk.
“They got out to a big lead early in the game, the wind was blowing out and they have a good team,” SUNY Orange Coach Wayne Smith said. “All of those factors made it tough for us today."