Honing The Edge
Liberty Pounds Fallsburg As Indians Sharpen Up For Anticipated Sectional Play; Strong Pitching And Solid Batting Propel Indians To Within One Game Of Sectional Inclusion
Liberty 16, Fallsburg 2
By RICHARD A. ROSS
Photos at www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
May Marauders, that's what Liberty has become with its 4-0 record in the second half of the season. Here they make Fallsburg their latest scalping victim (clockwise) Liberty starter Cosmos Fitzpatrick went five innings and allowed just two runs on three hits. Reliever Quinn Jackson pitched two inning and allowed just one base runner. This play involves an errant run down attempt as Liberty's Ryan Henry is caught between third and home just before catcher Jimmy Bertholf sends his throw into left field allowing two runs to score. Liberty Assistant Coach Phil Fanning addresses the Tribe following the win while head Coach John Wilhelm fields questions from this photojournalist. Liberty battery mates Doug Carter and Jim Bertholf confer, Fallsburg's Cory McKeon gets and RBI. Fallsburg Doug Carter fires in.
LIBERTY, NY—Poised to strike.
That’s what the Liberty Indians are these days as they sharpen their edge in impressive fashion anticipating their imminent series with arch rival Sullivan West and even more so, their hoped for raid on the Class B wagon train which they hope to set ablaze with rapacious hitting and solid pitching.
The second half of the season has witnessed Liberty’s rising ardor with a 4-0 record of late, and it was Fallsburg which became the latest team to get scalped.
The non-league skirmish played out under a gorgeous blue sky and balmy temperatures, indeed the kind of weather one used to regard as the norm for this time of years. These days, there is no such thing.
Liberty Coach John Wilhelm sent Cosmos Fitzpatrick to the hill, a pitcher who Wilhelm notes, “has given us a pleasant surprise. He’s thrown the ball well for us.”
And that’s exactly what he did over his five innings of work as he allowed just two runs and three hits in his 85 pitches, thereby evening his record this year at 2-2. Sophomore Quinn Jackson came on to finish the job and was sharp, just as he was in his last outing against Burke.
Fallsburg Coach Jeff O’Neill countered with Doug Carter, not exactly a flame thrower, but a workmanlike hurler who has had some success this season keeping batters guessing with his quirky stuff and occasional heat.
Indeed it was a gorgeous and tranquil spring morning, just perfect for baseball but for Carter and the rest of the Comets, it might as well have been raining cats and dogs given the outcome.
Fitzpatrick made short work of Fallsburg in the first as he struck out two of the three batters he faced. For their part, the Tribe wasted no time going on the warpath. With one-out singles from Joe Franke and Ryan Henry the table was set for Anthony Covington to knock in the first of his two RBI on the day with a crisp single. Jesse Hufnagel reached on an E-3 to plate the second run and a single by Nick Scheibe made it three-zip.
Fitzpatrick went back to work and again it was one, two, three as he induced three fly balls ably tracked down by shortstop Franke, left fielder Covington and right fielder Matt McPhillips.
The Indians added three more runs in the second behind an RBI double from Franke and a fielder’s choice off the bat of Covington. A wild pitch enabled the third run to score, affording Liberty a 6-0 lead.
Fitzpatrick’s perfect start was abated by his issuance of a two-out walk to Tony McGhee in the top of th third. He promptly struck out leadoff hitter Jarrett Madison to make amends.
In the bottom of the stanza Liberty again populated the bases behind an E-6 issued to Scheibe and a single by McPhillips. A wild pitch enabled the runners to advance and a sac fly from Damien Fitzpatrick made it 7-0.
Fallsburg got two men on in with two out in the fourth as Carter singled and Ryan McKeon got on with a bunt but the Comets couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity to trim Liberty’s lead.
That margin would widen by three more runs in the bottom of the fourth abetted by Fallsburg miscues. Throwing down to second base allowed Ryan Henry to score the first run. He had gotten on with a one-out single earlier in the inning and had advanced to third on a single by Hufnagel. McPhillips blasted a two-run double in what would be Carter’s last inning of work.
Heading into the top of the fifth, Liberty led 10-0 before Fallsburg finally got on the board with RBI singles from Madison and Cory McKeon.
The Indians countered with five runs in the bottom of the inning. Again Fallsburg errors came into play on throwing miscues involving Henry caught in a rundown. The throw sailed over third base allowing two runs to score. The inning began ominously as Fallsburg’s Ryan McKeon started his relief outing by issuing a single to pinch hitter Kody Viele. Another pinch hitter, Atwahn Ackerly singled next and McKeon proceeded to plunk the next insert Jordan Thomas to load the bases with no outs.
Ryan Boxberger plated a run with a sac fly to center. An double plated two more runs as Liberty now led 15-2.
Jackson pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Fitzpatrick issuing only one walk and no hits. Liberty added its final run in the bottom of the sixth on a sac fly.
The Indians improved to 8-5 and will face Sullivan West in a three game Division IV series beginning on May 14 in Jeffersonville. They need only one more win to clinch a sectional berth but Wilhelm notes, “We want to go into sectionals on a positive note. We don’t want to limp in.” To continue its second half momentum Liberty views its series with Sullivan West as huge. The Indians would love to improve its 2-4 league record against its rival. Liberty got one win from O’Neill and one from Burke.
“We’re hitting the ball better and running the bases better. We’re improving and that’s all we’ve been looking for all year,” he added.
Wilhelm coaches football and the bitter memory of Sullivan West’s OT win over Liberty that ousted the Indians from playoff contention remains. Then there was basketball wherein Liberty swept Sullivan West though both teams did make it to sectionals.
Now it’s baseball season with many of the usual suspects engaged. And even though the games won’t be as populated with the fervid fans present during the fall and winter, it still should be fun.
Fallsburg fell to 3-9 with the loss.
For an album of photos, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Home Field Swan Song
Liberty Defeats Fallsburg In Last Home Game Of The Season; Comets Still In Search Of First-Ever Win Will Now Travel To Eldred Looking For It There; Liberty’s Senior-Laden Squad Relishes The Game and Win Despite Disappointment Of No Postseason Bid
Liberty 33, Fallsburg 7
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Scenes from the last Liberty home football game of the season (Clockwise): Fallsburg's Josh Carter calls the signals as the Comets get set to take on Liberty. Fallsburg's Sabastian Sanchez carries the ball. Liberty's Kenny Jaycox nearly scored on this carry but did so on the very next on the next carry. Liberty and Fallsburg cheerleaders perform for each other prior to the game. Liberty's Atwoun Ackerley dives across the goal plane following a 24-yard TD run.
LIBERTY, NY—The sky was steely gray and a chill was in the air as the Indians got set to play their final home game of the season, a non-league tilt against neighboring Fallsburg, a team still in search of its first-ever win as it draws near the end of its second season.
Compared to football games with playoff berths on the line where avid fans filled the stands and great drama was being played out with eyes riveted on every play, this game had a more relaxed feel to it. Fans were on hand, but there were fewer of them than were present when the Indians were still in the hunt.
The 2011 Liberty Indians
By now, two week after their one-point overtime loss to Sullivan Wes t in a league game that sealed their fate, Liberty players seemed to have accepted their lot.
That said, this was the last home game for a senior-laden Indian squad, a team coaches hoped would not just make it to the playoffs, but one which had a chance to win it all but alas that was not to be.
Fallsburg's Thomas Zuewesky scores the Comets' only TD on a 13-yard pass from Josh Carter.
This year’s seniors include Joe Franke, Javier Baez, Marshon Williams, Jesse Hufnagel, Efrain Baez, Dejon Williams, Anthony Covington, Kenneth Padilla, Tino Casiano, Ryan Zayas, Jon Santiago, Daniel Ramirez, Damien Fitzpatrick, Tiago Mastrogiovanni, Cosmos Fitzpatrick, Victor Agunbiade, Michael Herbert, Danny Hopkins and Taylor VanKeuren.
Fallsburg seniors were reckoning with their waning high school football careers in their next to last game Comet elderstatesmen include Alexandre Mathieu, Douglas Carter, Russell Corley, Benjamin Davis, Kyle Dillon, Kai Jackson and Corey McKeon.
Prior to the game the Fallsburg and Liberty cheerleaders took turns entertaining each other with their spirited displays.
Liberty Coach John Wilhelm and his staff looked to this game as an opportunity to play all of the young warriors who have worked so hard all year long. Fallsburg’s diminished numbers, now hovering around 16 would prove to be no match for powerful Liberty and it didn’t take long for that fact to manifest itself.
Liberty's Kenny Jaycox.
Liberty won the toss and elected to receive. Fallsburg’s Sabastian Sanchez kicked it off and Victor Agunbiade returned it to the 28 where he was met by Sanchez and Jackson. On the first play from scrimmage Anthony Covington rumbled to the Fallsburg 41. Kenny Jaycox and Marshon Williams took the ball in turn before Jaycox scored on a one-yard TD run to make it 6-0. Ryan Henry kicked the PAT and the Indians took a 7-0 lead in a game they would never trail in.
Fallsburg returned it to the 37 and soon had to reckon with a fierce run defense as tackles by Padilla and Covington led to a fourth and three at the 44. Sanchez marshaled a first down but on the next play Fallsburg QB Josh Carter’s pass was intercepted by Joe Franke at the Fallsburg 41.
Liberty moved the ball with efficiency as Franke, Hufnagel and Jaycox advanced it to the 19. Williams threw a 19-yard TD pass to Henry at 3:37 and Libety led 13-0 as Henry’s PAT failed.
Arron Hornbeck received the ball on the Comets’ 42 and Fallsburg went back to work but it was a short shift as they soon went three and out. Liberty took over on downs at the Comets’ 46. Williams completed a 15-yard pass to Efrain Baez and Ehat Shehi got a carry much to the delight of his teammates before junior Atwoun Ackerley took off and wove through traffic for a 24-yard TD run at 11:07 of the second quarter for the 19-0 lead. Henry’s PAT sailed through the uprights for the 20-0 lead.
Fallsburg's Shakree Gibson
Fallsburg was pinned back on its own 11 from the Henry kickoff and again it was three and out followed by a short punt that gave the Indians a short field at the Comets’ 20. Fallsburg’s defense stiffened forcing and 15 from the 26. Henry then missed on a 42-yard field goal attempt as he looked to break a school record.
Fallsburg got it back and moved it with Shakree Gibson’s running and a completed pass to Thomas Zuewsky but time ran out on the half and the teams went to their respective locker rooms with the Indians leading 20-0.
Liberty began the second half by recovering its own onsides kick at midfield. Just a few plays later Jaycox bolted 27 yards for a TD at 8:09 of the third quarter to make it 26-0. Once again the PAT failed.
Gibson was the recipient of a resounding hit on the ensuing kickoff. Fallsburg went three and out again and Covington took the ball on the first play of Liberty’s next series on a 23-yard run into the endzone to make it 32-0 with 3:30 left to play in the third quarter. Henry’s PAT went through the uprights and Liberty now led 33-0.
Subs galore were now shuffling in and out for Liberty. Fallsburg had none to send in. The few people on its sideline were mostly nursing injuries.
The third quarter ended with Fallsburg in possession of the ball at their own 27. From there they mounted an impressive drive which was extended by a fourth and seven completed pass to Zuewesky. At 3:39 Carter hit Zuewesky with a 13-yard pass and several of his teammates ran over to him and celebrated like they’d just won the Super Bowl.
That would be it for scoring as Liberty improved to 5-3, while Fallsburg fell to 0-8.
“This was our best game yet,” affirmed Fallsburg Coach Adam Ramirez. We’re down to 16 kids. Academics hurt us to as we lost four. We practiced hard all week and we just came out to have fun and play good, consistent , solid football. Liberty is a great team. They’re coached well. John gets his kids ready for every game,”
“This was good for our seniors and we got a lot of kids in the game,” observed Coach Wilhelm. It’s a great bunch of kids. We’re very proud of them. It’s unfortunate that we’re not in the playoffs. That was a goal of ours. It’s a part of life. We knew the system and we knew what we had to do but we didn’t get it done. It is what it is,” said Wilhelm. “Right now our senior class has the most numbers with numbers going down each grade. We won’t have as many kids coming back but we will have kids who were major contributors this year. They include Ryan Henry, Tony Saravia, Andy Martinez, Ryan Boxberger, Kenny Jaycox and others.
Liberty's Ryan Henry
Some kids from the junior varsity will come out and help out too. Our modified numbers are good but it will take a couple of years to get them ready,” he concluded.
Stat Line:
Liberty:
Passing : Marshon Williams 3/4/54 with one TD
Rushing: Marshon Wiliams 2/49; Anthony Covington 10/90 with a TD; Kenny Jaycox 7/69 with two TD’s.
Efrain Baez 3/10. Ehad Shehi 1/9 and Atwoun Ackerley 1/24 and a TD.
Receiving: Ryan Henry 2/27 with a TD; Joe Franke 1/18
Defense: Joe Franke an interception; Javier Baez seven tackles; Damien Fitzpatrick had a sack; Tyrell Ivory had seven tackles.
Fallsburg
Passing: Josh Carter 5/8/2 1 TD;
Receiving Tom Zuewesky 3/23 one TD
Rushing: Sabastian Sanchez 13/33; Shakree Gibson 8/33.
Sabastian Sanchez had the PAT.
Defense:Sabastian Sanchez led with six tackles.
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