Photos: Bulldogs Bite Back
Intensity ramps up during sectional play. The Berne-Knox-Westerlo Bulldogs and Guilderland Dutchmen measured up in their first sectional games this week.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
BKW was equally matched with Duanesburg in the Class C sectional first round last Friday. The Bulldogs led, 3 to 0, for two innings, then, after the Bulldogs scored, the Eagles came back to tie, taking the lead in the eighth inning.
Then Caiden Larsen, at top, smacked a two-run double into right-center field in the eighth inning to win the game for the Bulldogs, 6 to 5. Larsen went three for four at the plate, scored a run and had two runs batted in.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Rubber arm: BKW's Michael Bischert was a workhorse for the Bulldogs, going the distance, eight innings, allowing five runs, four earned on five hits while striking out seven and walking two.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
It's all over: BKW's on-deck hitter Pat Meehan jumps for joy, at far right, as teammate Sal Audino with his hands in the air crosses the home plate, scoring the winning run. Maple Hill players, on the fence, watch the winning run. The Bulldogs lost to Maple Hill on Monday, 5 to 0.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Calm under pressure: Berne-Knox-Westerlo’s Caiden Larsen stares down a pitch in the first inning. Larsen hit a double in that at bat. He went three for four at the plate while scoring a run and had two runs batted in.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Long throw: Berne-Knox-Westerlo’s Quinn Toomey prepares to throw across the diamond as teammate Caiden Larsen watches. Toomy went one for four at the plate.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Before the Guilderland Dutchmen entered sectionals, they faced off against Niskayuna in a non-league matchup. The Dutch battled hard into extra innings but lost, 3 to 2. Testing the defense, Guilderland’s Angel Rodriguez bunts for an infield single. Rodriguez went one for three at the plate.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Getting his man: Guilderland's Joe Howard throws toward first base as a Niskayuna player attempted a bunt. Howard went hitless. The Dutch played in the rain on Saturday, in the opening round of Class AA sectional play, winning against Christian Brothers Academy, 7 to 6, to move onto the quarterfinals to take on top-seeded Shenendehowa and lost, 7 to 6, on a walkoff homerun. The Dutch had led, 6 to 4, going into the bottom of the seventh.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Release the pitch: Guilderland’s Travis Rathwell throws a pitch toward the plate; he relieved Dan Albright in the sixth inning. Rathwell pitched three innings, allowing one run on three hits, striking out two, and walking one.