Dunkirk's Zach Zentz was a standout on the mound in the Marauders' CCAA Division 1 baseball game against Southwestern on Saturday. Pajama photo: Scott Kindberg
DUNKIRK — Asked to describe Zack Zentz, Frank Jagoda didn't hesitate.
“He's an honor roll student, fifth or sixth in his class, he's student body president, he's on the board as a student representative,” the Dunkirk baseball coach said Saturday afternoon. “He gave his all today.”
There's no debate there.
The senior right-hander allowed just one run over the final six innings, hitting a decisive three-run double in the fifth inning to lead the Marauders to a 10-4 come-from-behind victory over undefeated Southwestern University in Chautauqua-Catalaugus Athletics. The Association Division 1 game was played at the frigid Al Starmiller Field.
The win improved Dunkirk's record to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the division, but the Trojans dropped to 6-1 and 3-1.
Southwestern University's Wilson Genereo takes to the plate during a Chautauqua-Catalaugus Athletic Association Division 1 baseball game Saturday at Al Staalmiller Field. Pajama photo: Scott Kindberg
“We were blessed with good weather today,” Jagoda said. “We went seven full innings. We didn't get to the point where we were disappointed. We're still hanging in there.”
Ironically, the Trojans, who defeated the Marauders on Friday, jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first half of the inning and, combined with great pitching from eighth-grade starting pitcher Wilson Henareo, took a 4-1 lead into the game. I went to Bottom of the 5th inning.
“I thought he did a great job considering the weather conditions and the situation we were dealing with,” Southwestern coach Jared Brown said of Henareo.
However, Dunkirk, who had been held hitless in his first four at-bats, finally hit his right-hander in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Donnie Jackson led off with a single and eventually scored on a passed ball, but Gabe Valentine was hit by a pitch, and with one out, Dylan Bankosky was also hit by a pitch. In response, Manager Brown brought in freshman Oscar Harris, who got two outs with a double, but gave up a walk to Paul Trippi, loaded the bases, and sent Zentz to the plate.
With the hosts needing a big hit, Zentz hit a double to center field that cleared the bases and gave the hosts their first lead at 5-4. Zentz eventually scored on a wild pitch, ending a five-run rally.
“We have a really young team,” Brown said. “I try to explain to them that it's going to be a tough game and it's going to be seven innings of overtime. You have to make plays when the ball hits you. Give them extra outs. cannot be given.”
For reference, the Marauders added four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to two walks, three errors and a bunt single, which was more than enough for Zentz, who finished with eight hits and seven strikeouts. He threw 100 pitches.
“After a little tough start, he proved himself worthy on the mound. He's a team leader and a second-year captain,” Jagoda said.
Brown was impressed.
“I thought he commanded his pitches well,” Brown said of Zentz. “He had good pace and worked at a good pace, but again, when you give teams like Dunkirk extra innings, one timely hit is all you need. is.”
NOTES: Southwestern opened up a 3-0 lead thanks to five hits in the top of the first inning, but the visiting team only had three hits the rest of the way against the Zentz. …Dunkirk finished with just three hits against three Trojan pitchers. …Jameson Walsh and Chase Cartes (double) had two hits and Henareo added a base hit to add two runs for Southwestern. … Valentine was ejected in the fifth inning after being hit by a pitch.
