Late rally, outfield assist help Lansing top Albertus Magnus in Class B state semifinal
Zack Sperger's pitching and Cooper Ouellette's lead-saving throw helped the Lansing baseball team advance to the Class B state final Friday night with a 3-2 victory over Albertus Magnus at Binghamton University.
Sperger threw a five-hitter for his fourth victory of the postseason and got a big assist from Ouellette when he threw out the potential tying run at home for the second out of the seventh inning.
The Bobcats scored all their runs in the sixth inning after trailing 2-0.
The game was originally scheduled for a 5 p.m. start at Union-Endicott, but heavy rain left the U-E field unplayable and it was moved to Binghamton University and began at 7:42.
What It Means
Lansing moved within one win of the second New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship in program history. The Bobcats went unbeaten in winning the 2012 Class C state title.
Section 1 champion Albertus Magnus, competing in its first state final four, finished with a 19-7 record.
Player of the Game
Sperger struck out three and walked three in continuing his clutch postseason pitching. He has four complete games in four starts during sectional and state play after picking up the win against Elmira Notre Dame in last year's Section 4 Class C final.
He was coming off a three-hitter against Skaneateles in the regional final after throwing a five-hitter against Chenango Forks in the Section 4 title game. Sperger, a UMass-Lowell commit, opened sectional play with a two-hitter against Waverly.
Impact players
Lansing catcher Korbin Lovejoy stroked a two-run triple in the sixth inning to knot the score 2-2, then came home with the go-ahead run on a bunt single from Avery Wells.
Ryan Pettograsso-Houk went 3-for-4 with a run for Lansing.
Connor Benvenuto was 1-for-2 with a run, an RBI and two walks for the Falcons. His groundout in the fifth gave Albertus Magnus a 2-0 lead.
Daniel Murray drove in the game's first run with a single in the fourth inning.
Michael LaRusso went 2-for-3 for Albertus Magnus.
Falcons starter Logan Scholl struck out nine in six innings while surrendering two hits. One of the three runs he allowed was unearned.
Play of the Game
LaRusso opened the bottom of the seventh by reaching on an error, then stole second. After a ground ball back to the pitcher, Benvenuto singled to right and Oullette made the throw to Lovejoy, who applied the tag for the second out.
A foul pop-up to Lovejoy with Benvenuto at second base ended the game.
What's Next
Lansing (18-4) will face Section 6 champion Depew (24-1) in the championship game at 4 p.m. Saturday at Binghamton University. Depew beat Section 7's Plattsburgh, 5-1, in the other semifinal. That game started at U-E and finished at Mirabito Stadium after the rain came.
Follow Andrew Legare on Twitter: @SGAndrewLegare. You can also reach him at alegare@gannett.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Lansing edged Albertus Magnus in NYSPHSAA Class B semifinal
