When the seeds for the Section II Tournament were announced Wednesday, the Patriots had posted a win over the No. 1 seed.
B-P had hoped to carry that momentum into the postseason, opening the Section II Class C Tournament at home as the No. 5 seed.
However, the Patriots’ hopes were dashed by 12th-seeded Catskill, which eked out a 1-0, nine-inning win Friday.
“What a game,” Catskill coach Eric Joyce said. “I’m extremely happy to get this win with this group.”
It was the second straight first-round loss for the Patriots, who lost 7-3 at home to Tamarac in last year’s first round.
“Right now, we’re in a position to be disappointed,” Broadalbin-Perth coach R.J. Pingitore said. “There was a time when we were the underdog, but now we’ve established a culture of winning, losses like this hurt a lot.”
Catskill got a strong effort on the mound from Addison Allen, who struck out six, walked six, hit a batter and allowed just four hits in nine innings of work. Allen also picked off two baserunners at first base.
His counterpart, Brodryk Benton, matched him throughout, striking out 14, walking one and allowing just four hits in 7 2/3 innings. Benton was pulled in the eighth inning after he reached the 125-pitch mark.
“It’s tough because we had to pull Brodryk because of the pitch count,” Pingitore said. “He’s a senior and pitched a great game. It was hard to take him out.”
Ryan Visco replaced Benton for the final 1 1/3 innings, allowing one hit and a run.
The Cats scored the game’s only run and the game-winning run in the top of the ninth when Bulich reached second on an error. He advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Justice Brantley before scoring with two-outs when Devon Haye beat out an infield single.
“It doesn’t matter how you score the run as long as you score the run,” Joyce said.
Allen got a fly out from Jake Galarneau to start the bottom of the ninth before Justin Hertik drew a walk. The next batter, Jared Eipp, lined out to second and Hertik was caught off first for the game’s final out.
“We had our chances,” Pingitore said. “Baseball is a game of highs and lows. Unfortunately, anything can happen.”
Dan Paquin had a double for Catskill, while Eddie Rogers, Ian Alexander and Brantley all had singles.
Mike Magliocca had two singles for B-P, while Ryan Visco and Galarneau each had singles.
Both teams had plenty of chances with Broadalbin-Perth stranding eight runners and Catskill stranding seven.
B-P’s best chance came in the bottom of the eighth when it put two runners on with no outs as Visco singled to start the inning and stole second before Magliocca was intentionally walked.
Both moved up on a wild pitch and worth one out Visco was tagged out going home on a fielder’s choice by Jack Marsden by Bulich, who caught him from behind going down the third base line.
“We had opportunities, but we didn’t capitalize on them,” Pingitore said.
One inning later, the Cats were able to finally punch a run across.
“This was a great game by both sides,” Joyce said. “Both pitchers pitched well and both teams should be proud of their efforts.”
Catskill (9-8 overall) advances to face fourth-seeded Schuylerville in today’s quarterfinals at 1 p.m. The Black Horses posted a 9-0 victory over 13th-seeded Cobleskill-Richmondville in their first-round contest Friday. Schuylerville defeated Catskill last year, 14-4, in a first-round matchup.
“We saw Schuylerville last year and we’ll see them again Saturday,” Joyce said.
Broadalbin-Perth finished its season with a 13-6 overall record.
Catskill 1, Broadalbin-Perth 0, 9 innings
Catskill 000 000 001 — 1 5 2
Broadalbin-Perth 000 000 000 — 0 4 2
Allen and Sullivan; Benton, Visco (8) and Galarneau.
