FDR 6
Presidents Hand Sawyers Their First Loss
HYDE PARK – After nearly blowing a three-run lead in the top of the seventh, the Franklin D. Roosevelt High School baseball regrouped in time for a walk-off.
The Presidents pushed across a run on a squeeze play in the bottom of the inning, and FDR handed Saugerties its first loss with a 6-5 decision on Thursday.
Both teams are now 3-1 overall.
The Sawyers made a valiant comeback to tie the game at 5-5 in the top of the seventh.
Roosevelt scored the game-winner when Justin Patsey led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a walk. Patrick Vivalda sacrificed Patsey to second but the Sawyers mishandled the play, putting runners at second and third. Owen Pacchiana was walked on four pitches to load the bases with none out.
With one out, Tyler Landolfi laid down a perfect safety squeeze bunt down the third base line and Patsey scoed.
“I’ve seen enough high school baseball games where teams loaded the bases and then get a strikeout and a popout, and all of a sudden there’s two outs and they can’t convert,” Roosevelt coach Kory VanZandt said. “I felt like if we could just put it in play, we could win it.”
Vivalda had two hits, both doubles, two runs and an RBI. Pacchiana had a two-run single in the first inning and Landolfi had three hits, including two RBI.
Pacchiana started the game but hit 90 pitches in the top of the seventh and came out. With one out, the Sawyers loaded the bases and got their three runs on a walk, a wild pitch, and a hit batter.
Jack Cimorelli earned his first varsity win in relief.