Sunday, May 10, 2015 by Aidan Joly Photos by Eli Fisher
With four home games in week four, Saratoga was able to keep up their winning ways, winning all four games at home.
The week started with a late inning heartbreak: Saratoga pitcher Danny Coleman held Ballston Spa without a hit through six innings, only to allow a hit with two outs in the seventh inning, just one out away from an elusive no-hitter.
Coleman said of that game, “My adrenaline was pumping, and that’s what kept me going.”
“Baseball is a tough game. It’s a battle to get through 21 outs, but he did a great job today. That can’t take away from what he did today,” said Head Coach Dean Bailey.
In that game, Saratoga was able to get an early jump, scoring three runs in the second inning, and was able to eventually win by a score of 14-0 after a nine-run, 13-batter fifth inning.
Continuing on to Friday, the Streaks got past Colonie by a final tally of 9-4, following a six run first inning.
Assistant coach Richard Lofink served as the acting head coach Friday, as Bailey was out of town.
“We had great approaches at the plate, good swings, and I thought we did a good job overall for seven innings,” said Lofink.
The Blue Streaks would head into a doubleheader on Saturday, taking on Queensbury in game one. They were down 4-0 early from struggling Saratoga starting pitcher Cory MacArthur, were down 4-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth, and tied the game at six heading into the last inning. First baseman Jack Herman came through in the bottom of the seventh with a walk-off single, plating Brandon Hipsley to win the game 5-4.
Herman said of his walk-off hit, “We were a little flat early in the game.” he said, “I was just trying to shoot one up the middle, and luckily I was able to stay back on a curveball.”
In game two versus Troy, things got a little easier as Saratoga scored a run in every inning they came to the plate. They won the game 14-1 on a four-hit, complete game from Danny Hobbs.
“I felt really great out there, my velocity was there, and I had a whole game to prepare so that really helped me out,” said Hobbs.
Bailey said of his team’s week four, “Really this is all we’re looking for in terms of having success this year.”
Saratoga is now 12-2 on the year after week four and is currently ranked second in the North Suburban council.