Spartans take three of four, primed for sectionals

Florida - The Seward Spartans won the season series against the Division V Fallsburg Comets, taking two of three. It was a good week for coach Bill Steele’s crew as they also topped Division III Goshen. It was also a fine week for Spartans Brenden Myers and Mickey Collins, two five-year veterans who just set state records. Myers, a pitcher and third baseman, stole three bases against Goshen in Cooperstown on Wednesday, giving him 132 for his career and breaking the record of 130 held by Mamaroneck’s Frank Chiou. Breaking the record on historic Doubleday Field adds a nice touch. Collins, a pitcher and infielder, blasted his record 180th career hit on Thursday against Fallsburg. A long triple made it a little more eventful. Do they keep records for total bases? And you can’t leave Bryan Folkl out - he’s another five-year veteran who has caught virtually every inning for the Spartans, beginning as an eighth-grader. A tremendous trio and to top it off, all three are honor roll students. To briefly recap the week: Fallsburg took game one in Florida on Monday, scoring three runs in the seventh inning and one in the eighth to nip Florida 4-3. At Fallsburg on Tuesday the outcome was reversed as the Spartans prevailed 14-6. So much for home field advantage. Kyle O’Sullivan got credit for the complete-game victory. He was helped by Folkl’s three-run home run and three hits by Jeremy Harter; including a home run. Dylan Gaucher also collected three hits. Every Spartan starter banged out at least one hit. The game at Cooperstown against Goshen, which Florida won 5-1, was a game worthy of Doubleday Field. Each team made only one error, and the contest was completed in a well-played one hour and thirty-three minutes. (Coach Steele keeps that stat, too.) Florida scored two runs in the first inning and three in the third. Collins hammered out two more hits as did Harter. Folkl added one hit and an RBI. And, of course, Myers helped with those three stolen bases. Dylan Gaucher allowed only four hits and a total of five base runners in earning the win. (He can now boast of a 1-0 record at Doubleday Field.) Back home on Thursday the Spartans had to stage a two-run rally in the last of the seventh inning to topple the Comets, 7-6. Collins, who had two hits, started the late rally with a lead-off triple and scored the tying run on Steve Sinisi’s single. Sinisi was chased home the winning run when Dylan Gaucher hit a long single down the left field line that was mishandled by the left fielder. The Spartans get into the Class C Sectionals on the strength of their 15-8 overall record. By now Florida will have played the opening-round game in the tournament and either moved on or will have closed the book on some great scholastic careers.