By Cody Marshall-Sultan of Sports

GALWAY–After ending last week on a 2-game winning streak, the Golden Eagles varsity baseball team would need to play stellar baseball in order to make it three in-a-row. With last year’s New York State Class B Runner-Ups coming in, Galway knew Saratoga Catholic would be no easy task. It was made even more exciting by the fact that most of the team didn’t even know who Coach Youngblood would have on the mound. However, Nick Manna was given the start and he wanted this one badly.

The first inning looked like every Spa Catholic game has over the past few years. The Saints used hits, miscues, and walks to take a 2-0 lead heading into the home half. The Golden Eagles were not to be silenced early, however. Shane Marshall reached with a leadoff walk and later scored the first run for Galway on a passed ball. After Adam Berlin and Kyle Collins reached base, Cody Marshall roped a bases clearing double to left, making it a 3-2 Galway lead. Tyler Bailey advanced Marshall to third with a ground out to the pitcher. Marshall would come into score when Frank Schwab lined a double to left center, putting the Golden Eagles up 4-2 after just one inning.

In the top of the 2nd, the Saints battled back once again and managed to score three runs by cashing in with timely hitting and walks. Heading into the bottom of the frame, the Saints led 5-4. Galway was held silent by Evan Bickford, who had come in to relieve Anthony Blancha earlier in the 1st inning. The Golden Eagles pitching and defense managed to come alive after the 2nd. The Golden Eagles held Spa Catholic without a run for the next two innings.

In the bottom of the 4th, Galway took the lead when Kyle Collins singled to score Adam Berlin. Later in the inning with Collins on 3rd, a passed ball led to Nick Manna’s walk, but allowed Kyle to score to put Galway up 6-5. Collins was fine after the play in which his hand was cleated by Spa Catholic’s Bickford on accident.

The lead would be squandered when Spa managed to score a run in the top of the 6th off a key bunt rotation miscue. Nick Manna fielded the bunt and threw to 1st for the out, but the Saints’ runner on first managed to go all the way to third because no one was covering the bag. With the end of the 6th inning, Evan Ceroalo replaced Nick Manna on the mound for Galway. In his first inning of work, Ceroalo managed to put the Saints down in order, but Galway couldn’t quite bring the winning run around to score in the 7th.

Ceroalo stayed on for the top of the 8th. He managed to get Casey Cohan to ground right back to him for the first out. After that, a walk put the go-ahead run on first, and a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second with two outs. However, Ceroalo managed to get the next batter to ground out to Kyle Collins at second base, giving the Golden Eagles another chance to win it in the 8th.

Adam Berlin led off the inning with a single to shortstop by beating the throw by about a step. After Berlin stole on the second pitch to Kyle Collins, the Saints elected to intentionally walk Collins, putting runners on 1st and 2nd. With a 1-1 count on Nick Manna, the next pitch bounded away from catcher Nick Hladik, allowing Berlin and Collins to move up with no outs. The Saints then elected to intentionally walk Manna to bring up Cody Marshall. Marshall worked the count to 3-0 and then took what looked to be ball four for a strike. The 3-1 pitch was then sent to right field and caught. Berlin tagged from 3rd and it looked as though there would be a play at the plate. However, Galway watched as the throw sailed high and out of Hladik’s reach, allowing Berlin to score and Galway to win its third straight game.

Although he pitched a fantastic game, Nick Manna did not factor in the decision. Evan Ceroalo picked up his first win on the season (1-0). Kyle Collins and Adam Berlin each had 2 hits on the day. Collins also added 2 RBIs, while Berlin scored three times. Cody Marshall chipped in big as well, going 1-for-4 with a double, game-winning sacrifice fly, and 3 RBIs. Marshall also made a great play after Jesse Winters lofted a ball to right field. Marshall ran halfway into the outfield and into foul territory to catch the ball that was out of the range of right fielder Paul Wojcik. Another key defensive play was a strike ’em out, throw ’em out double play in which Manna picked up the strike out and Shane Marshall gunned Casey Cohan out at second after a perfect tag by Kyle Collins.

The win puts Galway at 4-4 overall and 3-2 in the WAC. The loss was the first for Saratoga Catholic (5-1, 3-1) this season. The Golden Eagles won’t be getting much rest though. Galway is back on the diamond Tuesday against WAC South opponent Middleburgh at home. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30pm and the players encourage students to be there.