- By Erin Garry
- Sports
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The Lansing prep boy's baseball team rounded out their season the past Tuesday, finishing 14-0 in their six-team league. In the championship game against rival Dryden, the boys came from behind, picking up four runs in the sixth inning after being down 4-2.
Third baseman Matt Tucci stepped up to the plate and singled first for Dryden, followed by left-fielder Nathan Steele who singled as well. Center fielder Michael Bradford was walked, loading the bases before first baseman Nolan Milliman doubled, bringing in three runs to put Lansing ahead by one. Another run was driven in late in the inning, bringing Lasing up 6-4, where the scoreboard remained for the rest of the game.
"They did great this summer," said head coach Wayne French of his team. "A lot of them have been playing together for a few years. They love playing - they don't get down when we're not winning, but keep their spirits up. The keep playing like every inning their first. They are a great group of kids to coach."
French attributes much of the team's success to its strong defense. "[On Tuesday] strong pitching really kept them in the game."
Nick French pitched all seven innings, allowing only four hits during his time on the mound. He struck out seven and walked none.
Nick and teammate Nolan Milliman were "easily the stars of the season," according to assistant coach Mike Herzog, who coached both boys on the under 12A team this summer. Milliman went two for three in the championship game, with four RBIs and two runs scored. "Nick and Nolan are both incredible players," said Herzog.
The boy's under12A team also finished a very successful season, competing last weekend in the Can-Am Tournament in Syracuse, NY against forty teams hailing from the local area, all the way up to Ontario, Canada, and down to Long Island. In their first appearance at the tournament, the boys finished second to local powerhouse Homer.
"We wanted to play new teams we had not played before," Herzog said. "We wanted to see some stronger competition." In the first day of play on Saturday, the boys finished with a 3-0 record to win their bracket. In their first game against a strong Auburn team, Lansing won 7-5. They moved on to defeat Clay (5-3) and Central Square (11-1) later in the day.During the championship rounds on Sunday, Lansing won its first game against Fulton, 7-3, but came just short of victory when they fell to local team, Homer 4-3. "I was happy with how we did," Herzog said. "Lansing is a little town playing against small city teams. We expected to do well, but no one expected us to do this well.
"Strong hitting and pitching helped the team along through the tournament. Unlike many teams in the tournament, Lansing was able to start each game with a fresh pitcher, which certainly helps towards the end of the tournament when arms begin to tire.
"We did remarkably well this year, which was expected," said Herzog.
The Lansing boys may be done with baseball for the summer season, but that does not mean they are done for good. Look for the young men on Herzog and French's teams this fall as their coaches explore the possibility of beginning a fall ball team for the first time, which would add depth and skill to an already successful program. As the Tompkins County area does not house a fall ball league, the boys will compete in a league based in Corning, NY.
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