The Ballston Spa baseball team has come to life.
After winning only one of their first eight games, the Scotties (3-3 league, 3-6-1 overall) defeated Niskayuna and Guilderland to return to the .500 level in the Suburban Council.
Ballston Spa relied on the pitching of Michael Shriver to edge Guilderland 1-0 Monday. Shriver scattered four hits in a complete-game performance to pick up the victory.
Chris Curcio’s RBI single in the bottom of the third inning proved to be the only run of the game. Brian Guilder got on base for the Scotties with a double one of only three hits they had in the game.
Ballston Spa had many more hits in its 10-7 victory at Niskayuna last Friday. The Scotties rapped out 16 hits, half of which came from the bats of Shriver, Phil Delorezno, Kyle Baldani and Tyler Prehoda.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with four lead changes and one tie. The difference was a four-run sixth inning for Ballston Spa that gave the Scotties their three-run lead.
Mike Krasodomski homered and singled for Niskayuna, which committed six errors in the game.
Monday proved to be a good day all around for Suburban Council baseball teams from Saratoga County. Shenendehowa shut out Columbia 6-0 in Clifton Park, while Saratoga Springs downed Averill Park 8-1 at East Side Recreational Field.
Pitcher Andrew Kalish tossed five innings of two-hit ball and got plenty of run support from his Shen teammates. Brandon Cogswell had three hits, and Dan Lenney contributed a two-run single in a three-run third inning for the Plainsmen (6-3).
Saratoga (4-2, 6-3) broke out its big bats against Averill Park. Scott Hladik led the way with two hits and three RBI including a home run, while Erich Lange drove in two runs with two hits. Ben Cook added a double and a single.
Saratoga Central Catholic (7-0, 8-0) also had a good day Monday as it downed Berne-Knox-Westerlo 12-1 in a Western Athletic Conference game.
Dan O’Rourke and Dale Long led the Saints’ 15-hit attack with a pair of singles and two RBI. Paolo Audino had a truple for Berne-Knox-Westerlo.`