Story by Eli Ruiz
SOUTH FALLSBURG — May 7, 2013 — As hard as Eldred tried on Thursday to hand Fallsburg its first win of the season, the Yellow jackets still managed a sloppy 8-7 win in extra innings in what’s turned out to be a season filled with close wins for coach J.J. Gas and his team.
“Stressful doesn’t quite explain it,” said the Eldred coach, adding, “just about every game has been nerve racking for us this season.”
Nerve-racking indeed as Eldred – who wrapped up its division with a 7-6 win over Livingston Manor the week prior – came into Thursday’s contest with four wins, three of which were also of the one- run variety.
The Comets struck first on a single from Nick Serrone, scoring Rob McKeon in the opening frame.
Eric Lepes quickly evened the score for Eldred – in what turned out to be long second inning for Comets’ pitcher J. Carter – with a grounder down the first base line pushing senior Mike Donnelly home. Later in the inning a deep blast to left from Jake Halter score bother Gage and Tyler Schwartz to give Eldred a 4-1 edge.
In the sixth inning Fallsburg’s Steve Luczyski ripped a double down the right field line scoring Serrone and Carter and tying the game for the Comets.
“Our guys didn’t quit and that says a lot about how far we’ve come as a team,” offered coach Luczyski. “We may not have any wins yet this season, but the games are getting closer now. At this point all I can ask for is improvement from my guys and they’re giving it to me,” he added.
Eldred would reclaim the lead in the seventh when Gage Halter lined a full-count pitch from McKeon to left with the bases loaded scoring Donnelly.
Andrew Halchak led off the seventh for the Comets, and as he headed to the plate, coach Luczyski could be heard rallying his team with: “We need base-runners! We need base-runners!” Heeding his coach’s cry, Halchak blasted his second offering to deep left, just missing the fence for a double. Two batters later, Carter squeezed a ball just past Margarum at first scoring Halchak, tying the game and sending it into extra innings.
McKeon fanned his first batter Jake Halter, but Bray Curreri follow by sending McKeon’s pitch over the “340 Feet” sign in right/center to give Eldred the lead. Curreri would then replace Halter on the mound closing out the win for Eldred.
“It was a sloppy win, but a win nonetheless,” said Gass. “It’s been a season of close ones and I’m just glad we were able to take our division this year.”
Regarding what looms ahead for his Yellowjackets, Gass offered, “Well, I’m thinking we’re going to end up playing a tough [John A.] Coleman team in sectionals. We’ll see who we get there, but no matter who it is we’re going to go in prepared and hungry.”
With the win Eldred improved to 5-6 (3-0 league).