By Brian FeesSouthern Tier Sports Report
ENDICOTT — In their last game it took 10 innings before anyone scored in Horseheads’ regional final victory.
On Friday they needed just three batters before they got on the board as they struck first and that’s all Mason Holloway would need to help the Blue Raiders beat Webster Thomas 2-0 and put Horseheads one victory away from the second state title in program history. The last state title came in 1999.
“It was good to get it done in seven,” Holloway said of the win a game after the Blue Raiders topped Walkill 1-0 in 10 innings.
Advancing to the state finals is special for the Blue Raiders.
“It is really special,” Holloway said. “Especially with this group, they are all family, so it feels good.
“It was definitely nervewracking for all of us, but you just have to go out there and do what you do and like I’ve been saying all year, we have one of the best defenses behind me, so knowing that it was all right.”
“Very special, special group of kids, they worked hard to play the last day of the season,” Horseheads coach Jeff Limoncelli said. “It’s exciting.”
Holloway made his last start of the season, and he caps what has to be one of the best seasons in high school baseball history.
Holloway threw a six-hitter with six strikeouts. He finishes the year 8-0 allowing one earned run all year. But, that’s not even the wild part of his season. He finished the year with 111 strikeouts and zero walks all season long.
“It’s pretty special,” Horseheads coach Jeff Limoncello said of Holloway’s season. I’m proud of him. He’s got a lot more to go once he gets to the next level. It’s been pretty special coaching him and he’s a humble kid and works hard. You’d never know he’s that good.”
With one out in the first inning Keegan Monahan singled and stole second. Holloway singled to put runners on the corner, and that’s when Holloway got caught in a run-down. He stayed in the run down long enough for Monahan to score, and Holloway ended up safe back at first.
“Accidental steal,” Holloway said. “I haven’t seen the third to first move in about 50 years. So, when I saw that it caught me by surprise, but it ended up working.
“I knew I had to get myself in the run down. I was just hoping Monahan would take off and he did and it worked out.”
Getting that run early was big for Horseheads.
“Getting that run really makes you relax on the mound,” Holloway said.
Horseheads added a run in the fourth as Cooper Ball singled and Trevor Reidy sacrificed him to second. With two outs Micah Hays hit an RBI single to make it 2-0.
“It is important (getting the first run),” Limoncelli said. “It settles people down and you relax once you have the lead and we know with Mason on the mound, just play defense and things are going to be pretty good. But, the two runs was even more special to be honest. I don’t like the 1-0 games anymore.”
Horseheads came up big defensively as the game went on. Ball made a running, leaping catch in right field in the bottom of the fourth inning with a runner on base. The play saved a run.
In the sixth inning Webster Thomas had a leadoff double and a single to put runners on first and third with no outs. But, Holloway got a ground out, a strikeout and a flyout.
Webster Thomas got a one-out single in the seventh and then they had a runner each on an error to put two on. Holloway got a strikeout and a fly out to end the game.
The next game for Holloway will be the state final at Binghamton University, which is where he’ll play in college next year. The game is 10 a.m. against Fox Lane out of Section I.
“We are all excited,” Holloway said. “We have been prepping for this all season since last July, so we are prepared and ready to go.”
“Very excited,” Limoncelli said. “They have worked hard for this, it’s seven innings, let’s see what happens.”
And, while Holloway won’t pitch in the final after pitching Friday, the team has Cooper Ball, Brendan Clark and Chase Mashanic, who have all pitched well this year.
“All hands on deck, except for Mason, we will see what happens,” Limoncelli said.
The game Saturday also marks the final game of the coaching career for Limoncelli and his players would love to send him off with a win.
“It would just be a story book ending to end this with this being his last year, so we are going to try and get it done for him,” Holloway said.
For Limoncelli what really matters is the kids and them having a good game.
“Everybody wants to do that (end with a win), but at the end of the day, let’s just play baseball,” Limoncelli said. “Never mind about me, it’s about the kids. Let’s hope they have a great experience and if we play well we’ll win.”
————
PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES
PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME:
