WIZARDS WIN 6-5 THRILLER OVER SARATOGA

WATERTOWN - It wasn’t over until the final out on Sunday afternoon at Duffy Field as the Watertown Wizards defeated the Saratoga Phillies 6-5 in a thrilling NYCBL Eastern Division game. The Wizards improved to 5-1 while the Phillies fell to 4-5. It was a Father’s Day game that saw the lead change hands three times with Watertown taking the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth inning on a two-out two-run RBI double by Vinny Pennell (Franklin Pierce) making it 5-4 Watertown. Pennell ended the day going 1-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Pennell then scored the game-winning run on the next at-bat as he was stealing third when Saratoga catcher Kevin Pratt launched his throw into left field allowing Pennell to come home. The Phillies cut the lead to 6-5 in the next inning on a RBI single by Kendall Horner (Oklahoma State). Joe Malzone made his fifth appearance of the season in the 9th inning, striking out two and forcing a ground-out to end the game with runners on first and second. Malzone earned his fourth save of 2005 and he has been a part of all five Wizards victories. Mike Schellinger (Oneonta State) started for the Wizards allowing five runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts in garnering his second win in as many starts. The Wizards pounded out six hits against Phillies pitching led by Sean Conley (Pitt) who had his best game as a Wizard going 3-4 with a run scored. As a team, the Wiz were off and running, stealing five bases in the game. Saratoga racked up seven hits against Watertown pitching paced by TJ Baxter (New Orleans) who was 3-4 with three RBI. Greg Young (Tulane) took the loss for the Phillies throwing 1.1 innings of middle relief, allowing four runs on two hits with three walks. Starter Pat Riley (James Madison) lasted 4.1 innings giving up just two runs on three hits with two K’s. Relievers Walker Sudduth (Ole Miss) and Matt Kimbell (Rutgers Newark) threw 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. Like in their first meeting, Saratoga drew first blood in the fourth inning. With a runner on second, TJ Baxter smacked a two-out RBI single to put the Phillies up 1-0. Watertown answered in the bottom half of the inning with Anthony Mendillo (Florida Tech) socking a base hit to center field scoring Jeff Grantham from second to tie the game. Two batters later and Sean Conley on third, a pass ball got away from the catcher allowing Conley to score. Watertown tacked another run on in the fifth on a RBI single from Patrick Feeney (Marist). Saratoga took the lead back in the top of the sixth against Schellinger. An infield error by the Wizards and a walk loaded the bases for Adam Cronk. Cronk knocked a runner in from third with a sacrifice fly cutting the lead to 3-2 Watertown. TJ Baxter followed by driving in the runners left on with a two-run RBI single putting Saratoga up 4-3. The Wizards return to action Monday evening in a make-up game against the Mohawk Valley Cobras at Duffy Fairgrounds with first pitch at 7:00pm. You can hear the game right here with the Universe Cellular Pre-Game Show hosted by John McGraw at 6:45pm.

Team	Record	Runs	Hits	Errors
Saratoga	(4-5)	5	7	7
Watertown	(5-1)	6	6	5

SAR: Pat Riley, Greg Young (L, 5), Walker Sudduth (6), Matt Kimbell (8) and Kevin Pratt
WAT: Mike Schellinger (W), Bobby Hastry (8), Joe Malzone (S, 9) and Anthony Mendillo
A: 698