SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Central Catholic clinched the regular season Western Athletic Conference title, as ace Jake Moline finished what he started against Canajoharie on Wednesday—and then some.
Moline got the start on the mound April 7 at Canajoharie, in a game that was called due to darkness shortly after the Saints’ Colin Bradley tied the game, 5-5, with a two-out, two-run single.
The game was postponed to the next time the two teams were scheduled to play one another on May 14 at Veterans Memorial Park.
Taken out of the game on April 7, Moline was re-entered May 14. Despite starting the continuation game over a month later by giving up two singles, Moline went on to strike out the side and get out of the inning unscathed.
In the top of the ninth, senior Michael Naughton stepped into the box with a runner on third. The outfielder came up clutch for the Saints with an opposite field go-ahead single.
Moline shut down Canajoharie in the bottom of the inning to earn the win before he would go on to start game No. 2.
The Saints won in dominating fashion with a 12-1 victory, as Moline one his second game of the day. In game No. 2, sophomore Kyle Bailey had a three-run triple in the first and Naughton had two doubles.
Going into Wednesday, the Saints and Fort Plain both had one loss in the WAC, splitting the season series 1-1 after a doubleheader Monday.
The Saints lost the first game against Fort Plain after not being able to hold a one-run lead in bottom of the seventh and eventually giving up a walk-off single with the bases loaded.
But the Saints responded with a 7-3 win, highlighted by a five-run fourth inning.
“They were able to play a great second game after,” said Spa Catholic head coach Phonsey Lambert. “We could have packed it in that second game because it’s an emotional game one.”
Two days later, a come-from-behind victory for Galway over the HillToppers (12-2, 13-2 overall as of press time) helped give the Saints (14-1, 15-2 overall) sole possession of first place. Fort Plain held a 5-2 lead going into the sixth inning before dropping the game 7-6.
Seeding for the Section II Class BB playoffs will be announced early next week, as the Saints look to continue their season in a bracket against the likes of Albany Academy and Shalmont.
