Erker Dominates, Indians Take Home First League Title in Nine Years

MAHOPAC—It’s been a long time since the Mahopac High baseball team claimed a league championship, but the Indians have been playing solid baseball this spring, and capped a strong regular season by winning a share of the League 1-B title after beating Carmel, 7-0, in the first round of the Tantalos tournament Saturday at Mahopac.

Above: Chris Erker tossed a one-hit shutout in 'Pac win over Carmel Saturday. Right: Teammates congratulate Cris Erker (21) after he picked up a victory Saturday over Carmel. Photos by SKIP PEARLMAN. The Indians (14-6, 8-2), winners of 12 of their last 13 going into Monday’s game, could have won the title outright with another win over Carmel Monday, but the Rams weren’t having that.

Carmel, which had been in a sixgame freefall after winning 12 of its first 13, rebounded nicely with a 6-1 victory at Carmel High, ending the regular season at 13-7, and 7-3 in league. Both teams will open the Class AA tournament Friday with first- SKIP PEARLMAN SKIP PEARLMAN round games. Quarterfinals are set for Saturday, with semis following on Tuesday. The Class AA final is scheduled for Thursday at 8 p.m. at Dutchess Stadium.

Mahopac came back in game two of the Tantalos tournament and beat John Jay CR, 4-2, to win the tournament title.

Clinching a share of the league title (with Lakeland), and winning the tournament all on the same day was good news for the Indians, who lost both games at last year’s Tantalos tourney.

“Clinching the league is a nice accomplishment,” Indians manager Chris Miller said. “Being in a new league… it was a goal of ours, so it’s special to clinch that and get it done. It’s good to have Mahopac back on top in that situation. Going 14-6 and winning a league title.. you can’t ask for much more. So I’m real proud of the guys. And come Friday, we hope to get a good draw and make some noise.”

Carmel's Gaston Rojas had two doubles and an RBI in Monday's win over Mahopac. Monday at Carmel, the Rams ripped three homers, and Ian Anderson took care of the rest, throwing a completegame and giving up just one run on five hits. He struck out four. Ryan Kuck took the loss.

Carmel pushed three home in the second, and never looked back. A four-run rally in the sixth sealed the win.

Carmel’s bats came alive, as Bret

Viola smashed a two­

run homer, and Nick Palmiero and Chris Harlin each drilled solo shots. Gaston Rojas went 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI, and Ryan Shilling drove in a run.

Rams manager Bob Shilling was relieved, to say the least, to see his club break out of the doldrums.

“It was pretty crucial to get that win,” Shilling said. “To go into the playoffs on a losing streak… it would have made me a little nervous. But to beat a quality team like Mahopac, and go in with a win... it’s a big weight off our shoulders. We feel a lot better about going in now… and we got some good experience against some top pitchers (during the six-game slide), so I was really proud of the kids Monday.”

Carmel pitcher Bret Viola took the loss Saturday at Mahopac, but smacked a two-run homer in Monday's win. The Rams got contributions from several sources, starting with Anderson.

“Ian goes after people,” Shilling said. “And he gave us a big boost. Our defense also gave him a boost by getting out of a first-inning jam… Rojas made a great play. Harlin had a big home run that put us ahead, and Palmiero had a home run that tied it. And we got big hits in the sixth from Lauria and Rojas.”

Chris Harlin smacked one of Carmel's three homers Monday. SKIP PEARLMAN Mahopac got an RBI from John Maloney, and Paul Harnish went 2-for-3 with a double.

In Saturday’s Tantalos tournament opener, the Indians’ lefty ace, Chris Erker, was in total control, pitching a complete-game, one-hit shutout at the Rams. Erker struck out seven and walked two in earning his sixth win against two losses. Viola took the loss for Carmel, dropping to 4-2.

“Chris was in control from the get-go,” Miller said. “He’s been phenomenal… He hasn’t allowed a run – earned or unearned – in league play. And last year we lost both games in the tournament… finished last in our own tournament. So the kids were a little motivated to win it. We had a lot of energy and played really well.”

Paul Harnish drove in three runs and had a triple in Saturday's win over Carmel. SKIP PEARLMAN Shilling knew Erker would be a handful if he was on – and he was.

“Erker pitched great,” Shilling said. “He throws any pitch in any count… he’s a smart competitor. When you run into a pitcher like that, it’s going to be tough.”

Harnish came up big again for the Indians, driving in three runs and going 2-for-4 with a triple. Ryan Kuck doubled and had two RBI, Alec Petrone went 2-for-3 with a double, and Erker had an RBI triple.

Shilling spoiled Erker’s bid for a no-hitter with a seventh-inning single.

In the championship game, Mahopac’s Bill Demersky picked up the win, with Steve Green taking the loss for JJ (16-4).

Demersky helped himself at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two RBI and a triple, and Maloney had an RBI.

Mahopac's Alec Petrone had two RBI in a win over Put Valley, and went 2-for-3 with one RBI in win over Carmel. SKIP PEARLMAN Mahopac topped Putnam Valley, 4-3, the prior Friday at home.

Steve Tantalos earned the win for the Indians, and Ty Gembecki took the loss for the Tigers.

Petrone picked up the game-winning RBI, knocking in Maloney (who had doubled) with a single in the bottom of the seventh.

Petrone finished with two RBI and went 2-for-2, and Keith Mattos had a two-run homer in the win.

In the Tantalos tournament consolation game, Carmel took an early lead, but ended up dropping a 7-4 decision to Fox Lane.

Zach Marine got the win for the Foxes (13-7), and Estlin Link took the loss for Carmel.

Anderson connected on a home run and went 2-for-4, and Lauria, Shilling and Palmiero each drove in a run.

Jesse Hunt drove in three runs for Fox Lane, which trailed 3-2 after five innings. The Foxes rallied for five runs in the top of the sixth to take the game.

It didn’t sit well with Shilling.

“That loss bothered me a bit,” Shilling said. “We just didn’t play to our potential… I felt we were flat. We were up late in the game, then made some mistakes… Link pitched well for five innings, and we had our chances to open it up, and didn’t.”

The Rams didn’t fare much better at Somers last Thursday at Dutchess Stadium, falling to the Tuskers, 4-2.

The Tuskers (13-7) put the Rams in a hole quickly, scoring three times in the first inning.

Chase Levi earned the W for Somers, allowing just five hits. Anderson took the loss.

BASEBALL
MAHOPAC 7
CARMEL 0
CARMEL 6
MAHOPAC 1
MAHOPAC 4
John Jay 2
MAHOPAC 4
PUTNAM VALLEY 3
CARMEL 4
Fox Lane 7
CARMEL 2
Somers 4