By Eli Ruiz
LIBERTY — The host Indians opened a 3-0 lead in the first inning and extended their winning streak to four, with a 16-2 drubbing of visiting Fallsburg in a non-league game on Saturday.
Cosmos Fitzpatrick improved his record to 2-2, allowing two runs on three hits in five strong innings on the mound. he also fanned five.
Joe Franke brought in two runs with a double in the second, while a wild pitch from Fallsburg's Doug Carter brought-in Franke to make the score 6-0 after two.
Liberty picked up another run in the third after a wild pitch allowed runners to advance. With runners on second and third a sac fly by Damien Fitzpatrick brought in Matthew McPhilips.
Liberty (8–5) went into the fourth inning with a 7-0 lead and quickly added three runs to that lead when a bad throw from Jimmy Bertholf brought in Ryan Henry, followed by blast by Matt McPhilips that brought in Nick Scheibe and Jesse Hufnagel to make the score 10-0 at the end of 4.
The Comets (3–10) saw their first run in the fifth frame as Fitzpatrick walked Sebastian Sanchez, followed by a single by Corey McKeon. With runners on second and third bases, Jarrett Madison ripped a single to center scoring McKeon to register the Comets' first run of the game. Fallsburg scored again, later in the inning, after a sacrifice-fly from McKeon.
In the bottom half of the fifth Liberty countered with five more runs extending their lead to 13 runs.
In the sixth, Fitzpatrick – who threw 85 pitches – was relieved by sophomore Quinn Jackson who made quick work of the Fallsburg batters he faced.
The Indians got back to work in the bottom half of the sixth with singles from Jordan Thomas, Tino Casiano and Atwoun Ackerley followed by a sac-fly by Ryan Henry to bring in the game’s final run.
Regarding his starting pitcher’s performance Coach John Wilhelm said, “Cosmos been a very pleasant surprise . . . he's been just great of late."
The Indians – with five games left – are one win away from making sectionals. Coach Wilhelm, said, "I think we can [make the playoffs]. We're looking good and we've won four straight now so we'll just have to see what happens . . . we've got a big series [three Division IV games] with Sullivan West coming up May 14 and we want to go in there ready to play."
Liberty's league record stands at (2–4).