Bolton stuns Johnsburg/Minerva for Class D title

PLATTSBURGH | Bolton saved its best performance for the biggest stage. The Eagles knocked off top-seeded Johnsburg/Minerva, 11-5, to capture the Section VII Class D baseball championship May 30 at Plattsburgh High, securing their second sectional title in three years. Johnsburg/Minerva entered the game at 18-1 after earning MVAC regular-season and postseason championships and sweeping the season series from Bolton by scores of 5-3 and 6-0. "I said it before, something with this group is they just seem to always rise to the occasion," Bolton head coach Dan Sheridan said. "We had a very shortened preseason because these guys went to (basketball) states, and so we had to kind of change our mindset on how our season was going to be. I wasn't interested in hurting arms. We needed to kind of treat the regular season as our preseason. "And it seems to have paid off. These guys are peaking at the exact right moment." Trailing 4-3 after five innings, Bolton erupted for five runs in the sixth to seize control. Andy Morehouse drew a bases-loaded walk to score Lance Corey and tie the game at 4-4 before Liam Foy was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring home Will Hens and give the Eagles the lead for good. Morehouse later scored on a wild pitch, and No. 9 hitter Ryan Roemer delivered a two-run single to extend the advantage to 8-4. "You know, I think it carried over from the first few innings, where we left the bases loaded (in the first, second and third innings), which honestly is kind of what we've done all season," Sheridan said. "And so it was nice, you know, fourth inning on, we started to actually get some of those runs in." Bolton added three insurance runs in the seventh. Hens put a ball on the ground to score Jace Hubert, while Hens and French later crossed the plate on wild pitches. Johnsburg/Minerva cut the deficit to 11-5 in the bottom of the seventh when Cole Millington singled and stole second and third before scoring on Tristen Campbell's sacrifice fly to right field. But Hubert closed the door by inducing consecutive groundouts, 5-3 and 3U, to clinch the championship. Bolton starter Jaxon Egloff earned the win, allowing seven hits, four earned runs and three walks while striking out four. Hubert needed just 17 pitches in relief, allowing one hit and one run over the final two innings. "I mean, we wouldn't be here without the two of those guys," Sheridan said. "Not only are they amazing athletes, but they're two of the greatest and most respectful kids I've ever met. If there's nonsense going on, you can guarantee that neither of them are involved. So they helped lead this team to keep it positive." Foy led Bolton offensively. The senior went 2-for-4 with two triples and three RBIs from the No. 6 spot in the lineup and was named Bolton's Player of the Game by event organizers. "I mean, we've just been in the cage a lot, working on the high-speed pitches, getting ready for Cole (Millington)," Foy said. "If I'm being honest, he's the best pitcher in the league, hardest pitcher to face. "I struck out a lot earlier this year, but just ever since, we've just been in the cage working a lot. I figured out my timing, and I put it in the (batter's) box and I hit those balls." Johnsburg/Minerva pounced early by building 3-0 and 4-1 leads. In the first inning, Jeremiah Freebern clubbed an RBI double to right field and took third base on a fielding error, and Nick Sauer-Jones smoked an RBI double down the left field line. Sauer-Jones struck again in the second inning, delivering his second consecutive RBI double to push Johnsburg/Minerva's early lead to 3-0. Johnsburg/Minerva regained its three-run lead in the third inning, taking a 4-1 advantage, when Ryan Fink delivered an RBI single to bring home Rowan Olesheski. Sauer-Jones paced Johnsburg/Minerva at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with two RBI doubles and a triple. Jeremiah Freebern added two hits for the Irish Jaguars. Bolton (15-3) advances to face Section 2 champion Duanesburg (14-4) in a NYSPHSAA regional Saturday, June 6, at Plattsburgh High.

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Bolton stuns Johnsburg/Minerva for Class D title

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