Baseball- CHC 4, East Syracuse-Minoa 3

The Dolphins looked to put a tough loss in the previous contest behind them as the Dolphins welcomed East Syracuse-Minoa from New York on Wednesday afternoon. The Dolphins struck first, scoring two runs in the bottom in the second inning as Alex Gianascoli set the offense in motion with a double over the left fielder’s head with one out in the inning. Cooper Angilly reached first base after being hit by the pitch, and in the ensuing at-bat, Rush Friedberg singled on an infield hit to load the bases for Dane Hoggard. Hoggard drilled the ball past the third baseman, scoring two on the play as the Dolphins took a 2-0 lead. East Syracuse picked up three runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 3-2 lead and held the Dolphins scoreless until the final frame of the night. With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, Bryce Jones wore the pitch, reaching first on an HBP. Aiden Kuhle picked up his first hit of the night at the right time, lining the ball past the third baseman to reach first and move B. Jones to second. With Trent Jones now at the plate, East Syracuse intentionally walked T. Jones to load the bases for a force play at any bag. Stepping up to the plate with the bases loaded, Josh Holland earned the chance to propel the Dolphins ahead for the win. Digging into the box with an air of confidence, Holland wasted no time and lined the first pitch into center field with Bryce Jones and Aiden Kuhle chugging around the bases for the tying and game-winning runs. As Kuhle crossed the plate, Josh Holland completed the second Dolphin walk off in three games. On the mound, Alex Gianascoli held East Syracuse scoreless for 3.2 innings before fatigue set in, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out two. Justin Philbrick was called upon to close out the night, coming into the game with runners on second and third. Philly escaped the inning with a strikeout and earned the win from the mound, throwing 3.1 innings in relief, striking out two, and holding East Syracuse scoreless for the final three innings. The Dolphins (10-3) are back in action tonight to take on Salem High School at Cape Henry Collegiate, with first pitch slated for 4:30 pm.