Burghers cruising through first stretch of 2016 season

WARRENSBURG — The Burgher baseball team is charting a new course — compiling one of the best season opening records in years, after winning their first four games of the season. Tuesday April 12, they cruised past the talented Hadley-Luzerne team 20-4 despite a close differential in hits — 10 for Warrensburg versus nine for the Eagles. "We just capitalized on our hits — we pounded them out with runners in scoring position," coach Rex Reynolds said, "and our players kept Hadley-Luzerne at bay with stellar defense." It was the second time in five days they'd beat the Eagles, an opportunity provided by the head-scratching, unprecedented 2016 Adirondack League schedule of back-to-back games with the same opponent. Tuesday, Warrensburg picked up two tuns in the second inning and three in the third — and then the onslaught began, with the Burghers' offense erupting for 12 runs despite two outs already on the scoreboard. The string of runs began with freshman Evan MacDuff getting hit in his helmet with an errant pitch. Highlights of this inning include senior catcher Brady Rounds ripping a double. On the mound was backup pitcher Joe Turner — a junior who was the pre-season dark-horse pitcher in the Burgher lineup — demonstrating his keen defensive skills and earning respect with local sports fans. "Despite only three strikeouts, Joe was very efficient on the mound," Reynolds said, noting that Kelly played a complete game. "It's a testament to our team's defense as well. Demonstrating such defensive determination was sophomore rookie right-fielder John Kelly, who executed a running, reaching catch; nabbing a double play and shutting down an inning of scoring by the Eagles. "That amazing catch was a huge deal for us," Reynolds said. In another play, sophomore third baseman Garry Ross fielded a ground ball and threw it to sophomore Zach Smith at first for an out, and Smith fired the ball to Rounds behind the plate to nail a runner breaking from third to home, for an inning-ending double play which stopped a scoring run by Luzerne. Standout athlete Jake Nemec was 2 for 4 at bat with three runs scored and three RBIs, Kyle Boland was 2 for 4 with three runs, and MacDuff was two for three with two runs and an RBI. For the Eagles, Ryan Beaury was three for 4, scoring two runs, and Joshua Kipp was two for three with a run, and pitcher Jesse DeMarsh was 2 for 4 and scored a run. In the Burghers' April 8 game against the Eagles, top pitcher Jake Nemec executed nine strikeouts and scattered four hits, for his team to win 4-0. "Nemec delivered all we needed," Reynolds said. In this game, Mark Monthony garnered two RBIs and a run. For the Eagles, pitcher Scott Broekhuizen was 2 for 3, smashing a double down the left field line. The Burghers' two prior games of 2016 were a 7-6 win over perennially strong North Warren and a 9-1 win over Johnsburg. Reynolds said that he was pleased how his team had progressed so well in their first two weeks, particularly how the players had developed considerable chemistry. "They are gelling quicker than other teams I've had in the past," he said, surmising that it could be due to practicing outside earlier than prior years this decade. "The players have invested a lot of work into their game, and they have great camaraderie not only on the field, but in the school hallways and classrooms — they have shared sacrifices and common goals," he added. Following their repeat game against North Warren on April 13 and Salem the following day, the Burghers go to Corinth on Friday April 15, then compete against Fort Plain at home Saturday April 16. Fort Plain is mentored by the legendary Craig "Wild Thing" Phillips, who has won over 750 baseball games over his 40 years of coaching. Reynolds said he was looking forward to the non-league game, since the Burghers are 0-10 against the Hilltoppers to date. "This is the year we knock them off," he predicted.

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Burghers cruising through first stretch of 2016 season

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