White Sox Keep Working Toward Improvement

KENT—On Saturday the Kent White Sox 13 and under baseball team faced Cortland at Ryan’s Field and lost 7-3. The team has had a rough summer after posting a solid 10-2 record in the spring, the roster is pretty much the same but some injuries and a few missing players has taken a toll on the Sox.

Kent shortstop Matt Valentinetti waits for throw as Cortlandt’s Elviz Belen slides safely into second. SKIP PEARLMAN Cortland came out and scored the first two runs of the game, but in the bottom of the second inning Kent answered back with an RBI single from Matt Valentinetti to make the score 2-1.

The next two innings only got worse for Kent, as Cortland went on to score four runs, all off errors, to take a commanding 6-1 lead. Kent got two runs in the seventh inning but couldn’t complete the comeback.

“We pitched well,” said coach John Meyer. “But a few walks and some errors really hurt us. We spotted them four runs in two innings off errors, you won’t win many baseball games that way. We got a couple of hits too but we couldn’t get that big hit to put us over the edge, it really was a tough game for us.”

PV/C manager Irv Bomba addresses his team Saturday at Ryan Park. SKIP PEARLMAN Valentinetti pitched and took the loss for Kent, he went the first four innings and gave up six runs and six walks and John Niehbur threw the last three innings and gave up one run and got one strikeout.

Valentinetti also went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI, Kyle Dalrymple went 2-for-3 with two RBI and Rob Dresner also got two hits. A double for John Rock and a single for Joe Gervasi were the only other hits accumulated by the Sox.

“This season has been tough so far,” said Meyer. “We have some guys hurt and some kids have been missing for other reasons so things have not gone as well as we would have liked. But hopefully we can get it going soon and if we hit our stride at the right time who knows what could happen.”

Putnam Valley pitcher John Rainieri comes to the plate Saturday against Kent. SKIP PEARLMAN Kent faces Arlington at Ryan’s field at 6pm on Thursday.
Nick Corosi of Kent looks for a pitch to hit. SKIP PEARLMAN
Mike Calcagno of Kent takes a swing against Cortlandt. SKIP PEARLMAN
Kent hurler George Love delivers against Cortlandt. SKIP PEARLMAN