Harrison Baseball Beats Rye 5-1

HARRISON - After an extra inning affair earlier in the week it was obvious that the Harrison and Rye varsity baseball teams were very evenly matched. On Thursday afternoon at Harrison High School the game would once again come down to which team could get a difference making performance from one of its players.

Harrison's Goh Ogura delivered such a performance for Harrison. The Garnets tested the Husky pitcher early when they had men on second and third in the first inning but Ogura was able to get back on track and out of the early jam.

"I didn't have my best stuff in the beginning of the game," said Ogura. "Once I was able to settle down and find my grove I started to hit my spots and did a lot better."

"Goh was absolutely amazing," said Harrison Head Coach Marco DiRuocco. "He was on the whole day, and he kept the Rye players off balanced in the box. He is a finesse pitcher and knows what he's doing on the mound, he is a very smart player and that will take you a long way in high school baseball."

Even though the Huskies picked up five runs in the win, their offense was surprisingly anemic throughout the game. Harrison only collected two hits in twenty at bats but eight walks helped the Huskies get on the scoreboard.

The two hits for Harrison were a Michael Chiarella hit down the line and a home run by catcher Alex Beckett. The Beckett home run was the first round tripper of the season for Harrison and it could not have come in a bigger game.

"Today in batting practice we saw Alex, and he was doing really well," said 11DiRuocco. "Sure enough he got a good pitch to hit and he took it out. It was a really big pick."

Defensively the Huskies were led by third basemen Mike DeLacy whose play at the hot corner definitely saved a few runs and maybe even the game for Harrison.

"Mike bailed me out on more then one occasion today," said Ogura. "He has been doing it all year, and it is always good as a pitcher to know my teammates have my back."

Rye will look to rebound Saturday night at Lakeland High School.

Harrison's will also take the field again Saturday night under the bright lights of West Harrison Park as Irvington High School comes to town for a 7 p.m. game.