Drama Kings: Bears Walk-Off with Win Against SUNY Canton

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BELLEROSE, NY – For the second time in three games the Bears waited until their last at-bat for the game's decisive run.  After freshman Vinny Rossi (Bayside, NY/Holy Cross) sent St. Joseph's home with a walk-off single on Thursday, the Bears again showed a flair for the dramatic with fellow freshman Thomas McKenna (Bellerose, NY/St. Francis Prep) playing the role of hero on Saturday.  The Bears needed 10 innings to defeat SUNY Canton in game two of their doubleheader, doing so 5-4 and improving to 11-14.

SUNY Canton drew first blood in game two with a two-out RBI single from Gerardo Torres in the top of the third inning.  Torres was the Kangaroo catalyst, picking up four hits, scoring two runs and stealing three bases in the two games from the leadoff spot. 

St. Joseph's came right back, knocking four straight singles in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at one. 

SUNY Canton jumped right back on top in the next inning with a two-RBI single from Will McIntyre.  The Kangaroos were primed to add to their lead with the bases loaded, but Bear starter Kenny Smith (Belle Harbor, NY/Monsignor McClancy) struck out Torres for the final out of what would be his final inning. Smith pitched four innings and allowed three earned runs on three hits, earning a no decision.

The Bears chipped away at the Kangaroo's 3-1 lead scoring a run each in the fourth and fifth innings.  McKenna plated Mike Cundari (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) with an RBI ground out in the fourth and Cundari drove home Kevin Diaz (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) with a two-out RBI single to right to tie the game at three apiece.

The score remained that way until the ninth when the Kangaroos scratched an unearned run off of reliever Chris Cutrone (Levittown, NY/Island Trees HS).  St. Joseph's again showed their resiliency when Thursday's hero Rossi re-tied the game, 4-4, with another two-out RBI, a double to deep left to score McKenna.

Cutrone set the heart of the Kangaroo order down 1-2-3 in the 10^th, giving the Bears another chance at a walk-off win.  He also set the table in the bottom of the tenth, leading off with a single to left.  After Rob Mongiori (Jackson Heights, NY/Monsignor McClancy) sacrificed him down to second, Joseph Boccia (Westwood, NJ/Westwood) reached on an infield single to short and Cutrone took third on the shortstop's throw in the dirt.  With runners at the corner's and one out, Cutrone broke for home and McKenna laid down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt past the diving pitcher for the game-winning hit.

Cutrone earned his first career win pitching six innings in relief allowing just one unearned run on one hit. 

The afternoon didn't start as joyously as it ended however.  SUNY Canton jumped on the Bears early in game one, scoring three runs in the first inning.  The Bears were able to tie the game with a run in the bottom of the first and two in the second, but the Kangaroos took the lead for good in the fourth on back-to-back RBI doubles from Jordan Hunneyman and McIntyre. 

The Kangaroos padded their two-run lead with runs in the final two innings on their way to a 10-3 victory.  SUNY Canton starter Dom Deliberti didn't allow a run after the second inning, scattering seven hits in seven innings for his second win of the season.

Boccia was the only Bear to record four hits on the afternoon going a combined 4-for-7 at the plate while also scoring his 100th career run in game number one.  He is the first Bear to ever achieve that milestone.

Diaz filled out the box score going 3-for-6 with two runs, three RBI and three stolen bases.  He now has at least one hit in 15 of his last 16 games.

Torres, Hunneyman and McIntyre all finished with four hits to lead SUNY Canton.  McIntyre added a series-best five RBI and Hunneyman scored three runs.

St. Joseph's will look to get even with Drew on Tuesday, April 10th in Madison, NJ.  The Rangers defeated St. Joseph's on April 3rd, 14-10, in the Bears first game of the season at MCU Park.  First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 PM.