Tribune nine sweeps Genesee CC

By PAUL GOTHAM

HENRIETTA, N.Y. — Chuckie Sobaszek (Rochester, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) brought an individual record of 4-0 into Thursday's NJCAA doubleheader.

The Monroe Community Tribune threw a complete game in his most recent appearance, an 8-3 win over SUNY Adirondack this past Saturday. He looked ready to match that effort when he set down the first three batters he faced.

He responded to a leadoff double in the second by getting the next two batters on an infield pop up and a strike out. An error brought in a run before he retired the side on a ground ball.

Then came the third inning.

The freshman left-hander faced eight hitters and allowed three runs.

"I got ahead of batters, but couldn't figure out that last pitch, that third strike," he said after MCC (22-12) swept Genesee Community College (18-19) by scores of 7-4 and 10-8. "You can't give them one that they can get a barrel (of the bat) on."

Sobaszek started missing with his curveball up in the zone. GCC hitters made him pay with three straight hits to start the inning. After a runner was retired on the basepaths, a walk and two more hits rounded out the frame, and Genesee pulled within two at 6-4.

For Sobaszek, it was a matter of focusing on his work in the bullpen where head coach Dave Brust runs a string across the bottom of the strike zone for a target.

"Like coach says, you got to hit the string."

Instead of pulling the young pitcher from the game. Brust gave Sobaszek a chance to work through his problems.

"It is important to see him work through a tough spot," Brust said. "We trust Chuckie's ability. He has a high baseball IQ."

Sobaszek returned for the fourth inning and worked a clean frame with a strike out, infield pop and a fly ball to center.

"Just clearing my head," he said of his approach in the fourth. "Getting ahead of batters and getting that third strike. Keeping it low.

"You got to get it in the dirt, let them chase and get them to swing."

Joe Wintermute (Rochester, N.Y./Irondequoit HS) paced the offense. The Tribunes' second baseman finished 4-for-4 in the second game and reached base all five times he came to the plate.

Wintermute doubled to lead the bottom of the first and eventually scored when Connor Sackett (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport HS) reached on an error. He capped the inning with a two-run single to give Monroe a 6-0 lead. In the third, Wintermute's bloop single that bounded inside the right field line brought home Parker Zeiser (Victor, N.Y/Victor HS) for a 7-4 lead.

Joe Grzeskowiak (Rochester, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) was 2-for-3 including a two-run single in the first and later scored in a three-run fourth when MCC made it a 10-4 game.

Lucas West (Auburn, N.Y/Auburn HS) pitched 2.1 innings of relief to close out the game.

Al Simons (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) singled, walked, drove in a run and scored in the win. Paul Fiene (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem HS North) was 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored. Evan Brock (Rochester, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) walked and scored.

Zach Allen (Rochester, N.Y,/McQuaid Jesuit) struck out three and walked one to pick up the win in Game 1. Lucas Connors (Brampton, ON/Heart Lake) fanned three in a scoreless inning of relief and registered a save. Will Russotti (Rochester, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit) allowed one run over 1.2 innings.

Wintermute went 2-for-4 with a run scored in the win. Fiene singled, doubled, walked and scored a run. Simons was 2-for-2 with a walk and run scored. Grzeskowiak drove in two with a double. Sackett doubled, walked, drove in a run and scored. Tobey Wright (Rochester, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.