Yerry and Webster quiet the Thunder

WEBSTER, N.Y. – Getting past the fifth inning has been something of challenge for G.C. Yerry (Stony Brook) this summer.  The left-hander retired nine of the first ten Geneva Red Wing hitters he faced on June 13th. In the fifth, he surrendered two hits, issued two wild pitches and gave up a run. Six days later, Yerry made easy work of Niagara surrendering two hits through five. In the sixth, the Power tagged the West Shokan, New York native for three runs on four hits and a walk.

Yerry put all that behind him Monday night as he  pitched the Webster Yankees to a pivotal victory in New York Collegiate Baseball League play.

Blake Beemer (Ball State) and Matt Francis (U of R) paced a 14-hit attack, and Yerry limited the Alfred Thunder to two runs on five hits through seven as the Webster Yankees downed the Alfred Thunder 10-2 in NYCBL action at Basket Road Field.

Webster used a two-out rally in the third and never looked back. Matt Boutler (So. New Hamp) worked a base on balls and advanced on a pass ball. The speedy Francis reached when his grounder was mishandled in the infield. Beemer hit a sharp ground ball between first and second. Alfred first baseman, Michael Vanman (Christian Brothers) knocked the ball down but could not make the play at first. Boulter scored easily on the play. Francis never stopped around third and scored Webster’s third run.

Francis gave Webster a one-run lead in the second. The East Amherst, N.Y. native led with a walk, stole second and advanced on a pass ball. Ollie Bertrand (Flagler) delivered with a ground ball to the right  side of the infield.

Yerry had all the runs he needed. “It’s like Coach said, we have the best defense in the league,” commented Yerry.  “That’s a pitcher’s best friend. Tonight I took advantage of it. I have been having a lot of trouble with walks. Tonight, I threw strikes.”

“One walk is the key,” said head coach Dave Brust. “He’s got good stuff. He’s starting to figure out that you got to keep a little in the tank. The way to do that is to throw strikes and stay ahead of batters.”

Webster put the game out of reach with four runs in the fifth.  Cory Goeggleman (Waynesburg St.) walked, and Matt Delewski (Toledo) doubled down the left field line. Boulter and Francis worked back-to-back walks before Beemer slashed a single into left center scoring two. Bertrand’s single brought home Francis for a 7-1 lead.

The pinstripes added three in the ninth. Tyler Grogg (Toledo) doubled to open the stanza and scored on a single by Wes Winkle (Ball State).  After Winkle moved to second on the throw home, Goeggleman brought him home with a base hit. Goeggleman eventually scored on a fielder’s choice.

“G.C. gave our offense a chance to get going,” noted Brust. “We could run tonight. Every night it is different guy stepping up. We have a lot of talented kids.”

Francis finished with three runs scored and two stolen bases. Grogg went 3-4.

With the win, Webster improves to 11-10 and grabs sole possession of the fourth and final playoff spot in the NYCBL’s West Division. Alfred won seven of eight to open the season. Since then, the Thunder have dropped 10 of 13. The Yankees travel to Hornell tomorrow to take on the first-place Dodgers. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.