SALAMANCA – With the home opener scheduled for the weekend but inclement weather in the forecast, the Jamestown Community College baseball team moved their games up to this afternoon, taking a pair from Tompkins Cortland Community College at Veterans Memorial Park.
Game 1: Jamestown Community College 10 – Tompkins Cortland Community College 0
The bats were hot for the Jayhawks (3-4, 2-0 Region 3 West) with shortstop Nate Johnson (Lakewood, NY/Southwestern High) and second baseman Zach Zulawski (Melbourne, FL/Viera HS) each getting a pair of hits. Johnson's hits were both doubles with Zlulawski, left fielder Billy Harmon (Racine, OH/Southern Local), and first baseman Yordangel Gonzalez (Miami, FL/Miami Jackson Senior HS) each hitting extra base hits.
Zulawski led the way in runs batted in with three with Gonzalez and third baseman Tanner Potter (Trumansburg, NY/Trumansburg HS) driving in a pair of runs. Designated hitter Kenny Nickson III (Erie, PA/Erie HS) also added an RBI.
JCC held a 2-0 advantage going into the third inning where the team exploded for six runs to push their lead to 8-0. Gonzalez go the team going with a two-run double which got the offense humming.
The Jayhawks added another pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth behind a two-run double from Zulawski to enforce the 10-run mercy rule.
Pitcher Bryce Jackson (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown HS) continued to stay hot, giving up a pair of hits while striking out eight batters to get the win.
Game 2: Jamestown Community College 14 – Tompkins Cortland Community College 4
In the second game, Harmon went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate including a double. Gonzalez also capped off a strong day with three hits highlighted by a triple and drove in three runs. Zulawski, Johnson, and second baseman Chris Navarro (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown HS) each added a pair of hits.
Pitcher Adonis Collado (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy HS) found himself in a jam early but was able to get out of a bases-loaded situation as the Panthers took a 1-0 early lead in the first inning. JCC was able to get the run back in the bottom of the second courtesy of an RBI single from Potter to drive in Gonzalez.
In the third inning, TC3 recaptured the lead but the Jayhawks answered with three runs scored in the inning powered behind a double from Zulawski.
Sitting at a 4-4 tie ball game in the bottom of the fifth, Harmon put the Jayhawks back on top with an RBI double to go along with RBIs from Navarro, Gonzalez, and Zulawski to put the team up 10-4.
In the bottom of the sixth, cather Lucas Porpiglia (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk HS) sealed the game with a walk-off RBI single to enforce the mercy rule.
Collado started the game and went 3.1 innings, giving up four runs while striking out four batters. Johnson came in relief duty, getting the win while giving up one hit and striking out six batters.
The Jayhawks will be back in action this Saturday, March 26th, as they travel to TC3 to complete the season series. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
