The Bethlehem baseball team isn’t in a must-win situation just yet, but it’s getting closer with each loss.
The Eagles entered this week with a 2-3 Suburban Council record (2-4 overall) and needing a quick turnaround to avoid falling further off the track toward a Section II, Class AA playoff berth.
By the end of this week, if we don’t have four or five wins, it will be very difficult to get to seven wins, said Bethlehem coach Rob Helm.
The Eagles last two losses ` a 2-0 setback against Saratoga Friday and a 9-1 non-league loss to Schalmont Saturday ` highlighted what has been an ongoing problem for them, not enough hitting and not enough defense. Against Saratoga, Bethlehem pitcher Jason Daniels allowed only four hits in a complete-game performance, but some critical errors led to two unearned runs. Then against Schalmont, the Eagles committed seven errors. In both games, Bethlehem bats were silent.
`I think to a certain extent we’ve been hurt because we haven’t been outside much (to practice),` said Helm. `We’ve only been on our field three times, with the third time being the Saratoga game Friday.`
The Eagles should get outside more frequently as long as the weather holds up. They were scheduled to host Columbia Monday and travel to Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake to make up a postponed game Tuesday. The rest of the week has them hosting Mohonasen Wednesday before traveling to Shaker Friday for two league games.
Indians have busy schedule
The Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk baseball team will also be busy this week, as it tries to make up some postponed Colonial Council games. After traveling to Lansingburgh Monday and hosting Albany Academy Tuesday, the Indians visit Watervliet for a doubleheader Wednesday and Academy Friday. In between, they play Averill Park Thursday in a non-league game.
`Only time will tell (how well we come out of it), I guess,` said R-C-S coach Bob Dorrance. `I’ve got four or five (pitchers) who can throw strikes, so hopefully they can hold up and play at a quality level.`
The Indians proved what they are capable of by shutting down the high-scoring Schalmont Sabres 2-0 last Monday. Entering the contest, Schalmont had scored 91 runs in its previous four games, but Joey Boomhower limited the Sabres to four hits to pick up the win.
`It was a huge win for us,` said Dorrance. `They had been bashing the ball all over the place, and we had been in a lot of close, low-scoring games.`
Boomhower also struck out eight batters and got some help at the plate from Rob Nolan, who drove in both R-C-S runs with a double.
`He’s been outstanding, and I knew he would be,` Dorrance said of Boomhower, who is only a sophomore. `He accomplished a lot as a freshman, and I knew he’d only get better.`
Though Voorheesville stopped the Indians’ momentum with a 5-4 victory last Thursday, Dorrance said he is hopeful his team will continue playing well as it faces the prospect of playing 11 league games in the final three weeks.
`The kids have played great,` he said. `I think our bats will come around, but the kids have played solid defense and pitched well.`
Lady Indians pick up two victories
In Colonial Council softball action last week, R-C-S earned two key wins by beating Schalmont 6-5 Tuesday and Academy of the Holy Names 7-6 Thursday.
Elisha VanKampen came through with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the Lady Indians past Schalmont. Chrissy Shepard tied the game with an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh ` one of two hits on the day.
Ashley White had the hot bat for R-C-S in Thursday’s victory over Holy Names. White drove in two runs with three hits.“