by Mike Merolle
The @GCsports player of the game was Calhoun’s Joe Belbol. He spoke to Axcess Baseball after defeating Garden City 11-3 pic.twitter.com/CTVyLs3SM0
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 11, 2024
The Calhoun Colts did not let rainy conditions affect their game on Thursday as they defeated Garden City 11-3. The Calhoun bats made the difference in this one but the early game had solid pitching by both sides.
Josh Cohen was on the mound for Garden City and his first inning went as any pitcher would dream. A strikeout and two quick outs assisted by the defense. The outing began to go south in the third as the Colts started putting runners on base. For Calhoun, Ryan Morash pitched the entire game and was efficient. Morash allowed early scoring but shut the door quickly a few innings in.
The first run of the game came in the second inning thanks to Braden Soutar hitting an RBI single to make it 1-0 Garden City. In the third, Calhoun responded as Joe Belbol hit a double into left field driving in the tying run.
“I’ve been looking at that all year. That’s all I practice for, just to hit balls like that,” Belbol told Axcess Baseball.
Top of the 3rd: Joe Belbol hits a RBI double to tie it, 1-1. pic.twitter.com/48zGJSlpQx
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 11, 2024
The lead changed once again after Garden City’s Joe Psaki hit a two-run single giving the Trojans a cushioning 3-1 lead. That would be all the runs Garden City scored as Calhoun’s bats got to work.
In the fourth, Calhoun’s Matt Sferratore hit an RBI double to add a run and a fielding error by Garden City tied the game. The bleeding fourth inning did not stop there as a wild pitch allowed two Calhoun runners from second and third to score making it 5-3. Later with the bases loaded, two Colts walked increasing the score to 7-3.
In the fifth, Belbol came up clutch again. This time he hit a triple that was misplayed in left field allowing a run to score. With Belbol on third, Garden City balked and Belbol advanced to home, making it a 9-3 Calhoun lead.
In the sixth, Calhoun’s designated hitter, Matt Lawler, hit a sacrifice fly increasing the Colts’ lead. Following that, Sferratore hit his second RBI double of the day to make it 11-3. Poor weather and darkness made the game unsafe to play so the umpires called the game at the bottom of the sixth. Morash was the winning pitcher.
The GameChanger player of the game was Belbol. His double, triple, walk, and 2 RBIs were key factors in Calhoun’s victory. “Garden City is always a good team but it feels great to beat them this series. Everyone just saw the ball and hit the ball. Loved it,” Belbol said.
Belbol sees this victory as a stepping stone in Calhoun’s young season. When asked about what’s to expect from this 2024 Calhoun squad, he said, “Great things to come. Great things coming. All season. Calhoun baseball.”
