SARATOGA SPRINGS — On a wind-chilled afternoon that marked the 41st anniversary of baseball’s longest game, the Saratoga Blue Streaks Varsity Baseball team jumped off to an early lead they would not relinquish, holding off a late-game surge by the visiting Queensbury Spartans, en route to a 6-4 victory at East Side Rec.
The win came one game after Saratoga’s 6-1 victory over Suburban Council rival Shenendehowa in the “Battle of I-87,” and upped the Blue Streaks record to 6-3 in the 2022 high school baseball season.
The current team – known as “Team 83” as they represent the 83rd varsity baseball team in Saratoga Springs City School District history - will honor its high school senior players at a game Saturday night, April 23. That night, the team will be facing non-conference opponent Broadalbin-Perth. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. at the Benny Fasulo Memorial Field at the renovated East Side Recreation park. Senior Night recognition, a function of the Saratoga Baseball Booster Club volunteers, begins at 6:30 p.m.
As far as the longest game ever played – that match took place April 18, 1981 when the Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings went 33 innings and featured future Hall of Famers Wade Boggs and Cal Ripken Jr., in a game that took more than eight hours to complete. (For those interested, a fascinating read can be had in the Dan Barry book “Bottom of the 33rd”).
Upcoming Saratoga Blue Streaks games at East Side Recreation’s Benny Fasulo Memorial Field: Friday, April 22 at 11 a.m. vs. Niskayuna HS; Saturday, April 23 at 7 p.m. vs. Broadalbin-Perth HS; Wednesday April 27 at 4:15 p.m. vs. CBA, and Saturday, April 30 vs. Section III team Baker HS.
