Hornets Sting Huskies In Section One Championship

The Harrison Baseball season ended Thursday night at Dutchess Stadium against Lakeland High School in a Section 1 championship game loss.

It looked like it was Lakeland's night right from the first inning. Matt Pihota, the first Hornet batter of the game, laid a perfect bunt down the third base line. Mike DeLacey fielded the ball cleanly, but overthrew the first baseman, sending Pihota to second base. With Pihota on second Harrison starting pitcher Zach Eklund balked, sending the runner to third, then threw a wild pitch allowing Pihota to score.

Eklund was able to get the next batter to pop out to left field but then Chris Salvo hit a long double in the left-center field gap before swiping third base.

Harrison got the next batter to ground out to third base. But with two outs and a runner on third, Jon Demarte to hit a line drive to center field that would have ended the Hornets threat, but the Harrison centerfielder misplayed the ball allowing another run to score and extending the early lead to 2 - 0.

"I think it was just experience, we haven't been here in a while and they were a little nervous," said Harrison Head Coach Marco DiRuocco. "They get those jitters out in the beginning and that happens."

With New York State's Gatorade player of the year Jon Demarte on the mound for Lakeland, it appeared that two runs would be more then enough for the junior to come away with the win, but Harrison would threaten to score several times.

But Harrison's best chance to create a big inning didn't come until the fifth. With one out Goh Ogura and Alex Beckett hit back-to-back singles to right field. But Demarte buckled down and got the next two Harrison batters to pop out, ending the threat.

Demarte pitched a complete seven innings for Lakeland, only giving up one run on five hits and he did not walk a batter. The junior also struck out nine Huskies during the game.

Harrison got strong performances from two senior pitchers. Zach Eklund looked good during his 4 1/3 innings, but at times was let down by his fielders, forcing him to throw more pitches in an inning. But at the end of the day Harrison's senior tossed a good game on his 18th birthday, keeping Harrison in the game allowing four runs on five hits and two walks, he also struck out two batters.

Harrison got 1 2/3 innings from senior Goh Ogura. Ogura came in to pitch in the fifth inning with runners on second and third, after collecting an out he hit the next batter, loading the bases.

But behind in the count 3-0 to Matt Phillips, Harrison's senior battled back and got a strikeout to end the inning. The out kept the Huskies within striking distance for the rest of the afternoon.

Ogura was also the best player offensively for the Huskies, he went 2-for-3 with an RBI double and reached base on an error.

Lakeland got a strong offensive output from several players, Chris Salvo was 2-for-3 with a double and run, had it not been for a spectacular diving play by Harrison's Mike DeLacy Salvo would have been 3-for-3. Salvo also proved to be a valuable asset on the base paths as he stole third base in the first and got out of a run down in the fifth.

"Chris Salvo had a phenomenal game," said Lakeland Head Coach Dennis Robinson. "But the fact is there really isn't only one person."

The Lakeland Hornets won the Section 1 championship game 4 - 1 and pitcher Jon Demarte was named the game's most valuable player. Also, the win was Robinson's 600th career victory.

The loss for Harrison ends the career for seven Huskies, but each one should hold their heads high because they have been part of a resurrection of Harrison baseball that might bring the Huskies back to a future section championship game.

"This is a great group and, I don't know if you saw it, but at the end of the game I gave everybody a real big hug and I wish them the best of luck," said DiRuocco. "They are a special group of kids, they came out and they played hard every day 100 percent and I'm going to miss them."