Jefferson Baseball Go 2-2 in Maryland

The Jefferson Cannoneer baseball team started off the 2014 schedule with their first of two trips to Maryland to play a 4 game series versus NJCAA Division I Harford Community College in Bel Air, Maryland. Cancelled from the trip was a double header versus Frederick Community College because of field conditions, and will be re-scheduled for Saturday March 15^th. The Cannoneers would go on to split the 4 game series versus Harford, winning the second game of each double header.

Friday March 7^th:

Game 1:               Jefferson 1 – HARFORD 9

The Cannoneers would get off to a slow start for their first time outside and Harford would take advantage putting up 4 runs in the bottom of the first. Harford kept the momentum for the entire game behind starter Austin Griffie, surrendering only 3 hits in 6 innings. For Jefferson freshmen starter James Snelgrove (Aclelaide, Australia) had a productive start working 5 innings and only allowing 4 hits.  At the plate, sophomore Kyle Simmons (Watertown, NY) contributed 2 singles, and sophomore Chris Ballester (Santo Domingo, DR) went 1-3 with a single in the loss.

Game 2:               JEFFERSON 10 – Harford 5

In game 2 the Cannoneers would get off to another slow start giving up 3 runs in the bottom of the first off sophomore starter James Matthews (Camden, NY). Matthews would settle down and pitch into the 5^th inning only allowing 3 earned runs and exiting the game with a no decision. The Cannoneer bats put up 9 hits and scored 10 runs in the final four innings. Offensively freshmen Michael Wood (Seneca Falls, NY) lead with 3 singles and 3 RBI. Sophmore Kyle Simmons (Watertown, NY) again added 2 hits; a single and a bases full triple to go 4-6 on the first day of the season. To close out the first win of 2014, sophomore Eury Villalona (Brooklyn, NY) entered in the 5^th inning in a tie game and shut the Harford offense down for the final 3 innings striking out 1 and allowing just 2 hits.

Saturday March 8^th:

Game 3:               Jefferson 5 – HARFORD 10

For the 3^rd straight game the Cannoneers would have a slow start, falling behind to Harford 5-0 in the bottom of the 1^st. Freshmen starter TJ Montalbano (Dix Hills, NY) would settle down and pitch into the 5^th not surrendering a Harford run over the next 3 innings. The Cannoneer bats game alive in the 4^th putting up 5 runs to tie the game 5-5, but Harford would tack on more runs late winning 10-5. Offensively for the Cannoneers freshmen Emerson Gross (Selden, NY) would add 3 singles with 1 RBI, and sophomore Jason Hardie (Ajax, Ontario) contributed 2 singles.

Game 4:               JEFFERSON 8 – Harford 1

Sophomore starter Kyle Simmons (Watertown, NY) kept Harford's offense quiet taking a no-hitter into the bottom of the 6^th before allowing a single between 3^rd and short. Simmons on the day would pitch a complete game 2 hitter, striking out 5 and only walking 2 to record his first win of the season. Offensively for the Cannoneers sophomore Calder Roggie (Lowville, NY), sophomore Chris Ballester (Santo Domingo, DR) and freshmen James Smith (Brooklyn, NY) would each contribute 2 hits, while Smith provided 4 RBI on the day.

The Cannoneers will travel back to Maryland Thursday to play a single 9 inning game Friday @ Anne Arundel, and double headers Saturday and Sunday with Frederick CC and Hagerstown CC.