Hadley-Luzerne baseball captures first section title in 56 years

TROY, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — The last time Hadley-Luzerne baseball won a section title, Richard Nixon was running for the presidency, The Beatles “Hey Jude” was the best performing single and man had yet to walk on the moon.

The Eagles’ 56-year championship drought came to an end in walk-off fashion Saturday night at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. Tied at four with Mekeel Christian Academy in the bottom of the seventh inning, Hadley-Luzerne’s Noah Springer worked a bases-loaded walk to plate the game-winning run and claim his team the Section II, Class D title – the program’s first section title since 1968.

“We’ve been trying to honor all the baseball programs that came before us,” said Hadley-Luzerne head coach Jay Connelly. “I think we had, like, five previous Hadley-Luzerne coaches in attendance tonight; a ton of former players. I think we got a player from the 1968 championship team here. It’s been awesome. And the guys know it. We’ve just been trying to…honor that all season, and we keep rollin’.”

The seventh inning began with Jacob Briston reaching first base on an error. Mason Dunn pinch ran for Briston, and moved to second on an Evan Kader single to right field.

Another ensuing Mekeel Christian error loaded the bases for Springer, who worked the Lions’ starting pitcher, Caleb Hussey, to a full count. While most players would be swinging away on the next pitch, trying to play hero-ball, Springer did his job, watching a high fastball cross the plate for ball four. As he took his base, Dunn trotted home, and a celebration 56 years in the making commenced.

Springer detailed his approach at the plate in a situation most kids grow up dreaming they’ll be in one day.

“Stick to the game plan we had,” said Springer. “Play small-ball; put the ball in play. I wanted to get a ball in play, but I walked; it all works out. Beginning of the season, I didn’t even think we’d be here, to be honest. And here we are. It’s just amazing.”

The lead changed hands three times in the first three innings. Daniel Hussey got the scoring started for Mekeel Christian in the opening frame – swiping home after getting caught in a rundown with the bases loaded.

Hadley-Luzerne responded in the bottom half of the inning with in infield RBI single from Taylor Smead. Springer, who was on second base, came all the way around to score on the play as well after the Lions mishandled the ball at first, and the Eagles had their first lead of the game at 2-1.

Mekeel Christian loaded the bases again in the top of the third. Jeramiah Rodriguez was hit by a pitch and Jadin Zoeller worked a walk on back-to-back at-bats, reclaiming the Lions a 3-2 edge.

But once again, Hadley-Luzerne responded in the home half – this time on an electrifying play from Mason Conklin. The senior second baseman smacked a go-ahead, two-run, inside-the-park home run to put the Eagles back on top at 4-3.

Mekeel managed to tie the game in the sixth on a Josh Barnes RBI single, but left two men on base in the inning.

Springer, who relieved starting pitcher Matt Case, tossed a clean seventh inning, setting the offense up for its game-winning opportunity in the bottom of the frame.

Both starting pitchers had good stuff. Case recorded 11 strikeouts in five innings of work; Caleb Hussey had 10 over six innings. Springer tossed two shoutout innings in relief, and earned the win.

Hadley-Luzerne advances to the state tournament, and gets a bye straight through to the regional round, where it will meet up with the winner of a sub-regional matchup on Thursday, May 30, between the Section X and Section VII champions. The Eagles will be back in action Saturday, June 1. The location of that game is dependent on the winner of the sub-regional contest.

Mekeel Christian made a stellar run through the tournament. After a sub-.500 regular season, the fifth-seeded Lions knocked off No. 4 North Warren and the top seed, Warrensburg. Their season comes to an end with an overall record of 7-11.

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