VOORHEESVILLE — The Voorheesville Blackbirds set out to make a name for themselves in baseball this season and they have.

The Blackbirds have clinched a share of the Colonial Council title and are preparing to make their name in sectionals.

Voorheesville took first place with a 12-6 win over Cobleskill-Richmondville on Monday. The Birds followed that win with a 13-8 win in a non-league game against Bishop Gibbons.

With a win on Wednesday over league foe Lansingburgh, Voorheesville would clinch the Colonial Council title.

"It would be the first in Blackbird history," Voorheesville Coach Hank Czerwinski said.

"It’s very exciting," said senior co-captain Chris Hensel after Tuesday’s game. "But we are looking to keep it for ourselves. We do not want to share it."

The Blackbirds are 12-2 in the Colonial Council and 15-4 over-all. Their only league losses came to Mechanicville and Schalmont, teams they had beaten this season.

"We’ve struggled at times this season," Hensel said. "But recently we’ve hit the ball well. The team’s been clicking."

Winning streak
After a loss to Bishop Gibbons on May 3, the Blackbirds have ripped off four straight wins and avenged that earlier loss to the Golden Knights.

The Blackbirds won an error-filled game on Tuesday against Gibbons.

Voorheesville took advantage of a couple of errors in the first inning. With one out, Shayne Minick doubled to left field and then advanced to third on Pete Lindner’s single. Lindner stole second base as the throw from the catcher went into centerfield and Minick scored on the play.

Steve Cardinal then reached first on an error by the Gibbons second baseman and Lindner scored on the miscue. Nick Duncan followed with a walk and Andy Catellier then singled to load the bases.

Brett LaFave grounded out to the shortstop but Cardinal scored to give the Birds a 3-0 lead.

Gibbons scored two runs in the top of the third inning, but Voorheesville answered with four runs in the bottom half of the frame.
Duncan led off the inning with a single and then stole second base. Catellier singled and advanced to third on an error by the Gibbons left fielder. Duncan scored on Catellier’s hit.

LaFave walked, and an infield hit by R.J. Curreri loaded the bases. Greg Delaney grounded the ball to the shortstop who forced out Curreri at second base. The relay throw to first base was late and Delaney was safe at first; Catellier scored and LaFave advanced to third.

LaFave scored when Delaney stole second base and another bad throw by the Gibbons catcher was errant.

Minick singled to drive in Delaney to make the score 7-2.

Voorheesville scored six runs in the fourth inning to take a 13-2 lead.

Charles Lansburg drove in two runs and later scored in the frame. Curreri, Delaney, and Minik also scored in the frame.

Bishop Gibbons scored four runs in the fifth inning and two in the sixth as Voorheesville got careless on defense.

Hensel pitched well in the con-test to get the win. He pitched six innings striking out nine Gibbons batters.

LaFave pitched the seventh inning; he did not give up a run and had one strike out.

"It was a very ugly win," Czerwinski said. "But we’ll take them as we can get them. It wasn’t pretty. Every win is important for sectional seeding. And Gibbons, like us, is a Class B school."

"Ready to go"
The Blackbirds are getting ready for the stretch run as the regular season comes to a close next Monday against Watervliet."We’re hitting the ball and our pitchers are holding up," Czerwinski said. "We got a de-cent effort from Chris and our arms are rested. We should be ready to go."

"We have at least two starters for every game," Hensel said. "We’re solid and have a deep bullpen."

The Blackbirds had other goals set for the season, like qualifying for the sectionals — which they easily accomplished — and getting a home game in the sectional tourney. While the second goal will have to wait, the Birds did accomplish another goal in being at the top of the Colonial Council.

"We’re taking it one step at a time," Czerwinski said. "Last year, we wanted to get into the sectionals and we did that, but we got beat. This year, we want to get a home game and get a win. And then keep moving up."

"We want to keep winning," Hensel said. "We want to get a winning streak going and win as much as we can."

After Wednesday’s game, Voorheesville plays at Schoharie on Thursday and hosts Watervliet on Monday.