Tigers rally against Ken West, earn early non-league win
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

It was only a non-league game but the Amherst Central baseball team's 5-4 comeback win over Kenmore West last Thursday at Amherst meant a lot for the Tigers.

Down 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, senior Mike Gruttadauria (2 for 3, RBI, two runs scored), on an 0-2 count, singled to left field and scored senior Phil Cultrara to tie the game at 4-4 and with one out, Zach Willett, on an 0-1 count, singled to left and scored Gruttadauria to win the game for Amherst. Willett finished 2 for 3.

"It was great to have something like this happen early in the season," said Amherst coach Brian Davis, whose team finished 5-17 last year. "The boys are seeing that they are in the game until the final out."

Amherst trailed 4-3 until they scored three times in the third inning. Gruttadauria led off with a single, Willett singled, and senior Geoff Gallson bunted and beat out the throw to first base to load up the bases with no outs. Junior James Gould (2 for 3) followed with a single to drive in Gruttadauria and Gallson before getting thrown out while trying to stretch the hit to a double. Willett was also tagged out in a rundown on the play. Senior Derek Duke drove in Alex Dusenberry (2 for 3, run scored) for the Tigers' third run of the inning.

Senior Brandon Jeffords pitched a complete game and allowed three earned runs, eight hits, struck out four and walked none.

Davis said the difference between the team's hitting against Kenmore West and its three hits in a 3-1 loss against Williamsville South on April 7 came down to being more aggressive at the plate.

"It sounds simple but we were swinging at good pitches earlier in the count and didn't chase curve balls," said Davis.

The Tigers trailed the Billies, 3-0, in the sixth when Dusenberry drove in Gould.

Senior Alex Walkowski scored in the first and sixth and senior Andy Esposito scored in the sixth for South's three runs. South finished with four hits. Junior Andy Diakun earned the win on the mound for the Billies.

Dusenberry, Duke and Yanity each went 1 for 3. Yanity hit a double.

Senior Andrew Hays pitched well for the Tigers, allowing one earned run, four hits, struck out five and walked one. Jeffords pitched the seventh and recorded a walk and three strikeouts.

The Tigers (1-1) return to action at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 21 when they play Depew at Dawson Field. Amherst's home game at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22 against Canisius is "throw back the clock day" where the Tigers will use wooden bats and wear retro jerseys.

Amherst closes out the week with a road game at Maryvale on Wednesday and a home contest against Cheektowaga. Both games have 4:30 p.m. starting times.