By Steve Marovich, Carthage Athletics Staff Writer/2022 Baseball Contact
The Carthage College baseball team (2-0) opened its 2022 season on Saturday, Feb. 26 by sweeping a doubleheader from Northern Vermont University-Lyndon (0-5), 10-1 and 8-3, at the Chain of Lakes Park Stadium in Winter Haven, Fla.
The stadium is the former spring training home of the Boston Red Sox (1966-92) and the Cleveland Indians (1993-2008). The Northern Vermont-Lyndon twinbill will be a seven-inning game followed by a nine-inning contest. The 2022 season marks the 86th year for Carthage baseball, which began with the 1910 season. Carthage did not field teams in 1918, 1919 or 1922-46.
In the opener, Carthage jumped on Northern Vermont-Lyndon with five runs in the first inning, including two-run singles by both Chase Gibson and Matthew Felber. The Firebirds added a run in the second, two runs in the fifth and two more in the final frame of the seven-inning contest. Meanwhile, starting pitcher Dante Guarascio (1-0) blanked the Hornets on five hits and no walks over the first five innings, while striking out eight batters. Northern Vermont-Lyndon scored its lone run in the sixth inning off reliever Troy Siranovic. The Firebirds collected 13 hits, with Colton Klein going three-for-five with two runs scored and two RBI. Chase Gibson drove in three runs. Jacob Wechselblatt (0-1), the first-of-five Hornet hurlers, took the loss by allowing the first five runs before bowing out with only one out in the first inning.
In the nine-inning nightcap, Carthage scored two runs in both the first and second innings, with Bryce Prybylinski hitting a two-run single in the second. Northern Vermont-Lyndon cut the lead to 4-2 in the third inning, but the Firebirds put up three runs in the fifth to take a 7-2 lead. Iyan Pelfree doubled in a run and Jake Snider singled home another in that fifth frame. Carthage tacked on a final run in the eighth when Pierson Gibis was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The Hornets scored once in the ninth for the final 8-3 margin.
The Firebirds collected 12 hits in the second game, for a total of 25 base hits on the day. Bryce Prybylinski went a perfect five-for-five with two runs scored and three RBI. Pitcher Bryce Schaum started the game and pitched well over four innings, allowing just two unearned runs on four hits, two walks and eight strikeouts. Kyle McKinnon (1-0) blanked the Hornets over the next three innings on no hits and four strikeouts to earn the win. Ben Massoglia pitched the eighth and part of the ninth, with James Lindenmuth finishing up. Dale Ostermann (0-1), the first-of-five Northern Vermont-Lyndon pitchers, took the loss by allowing four runs, just one earned, over the first four frames.
"Overall, it was a typical first day," said Carthage coach Augie Schmidt IV. "We got really good pitching from Dante Guarascio and Troy Siranovic in the first game, and we hit enough to get things done. We also made a lot of mistakes, so we have a lot to clean up. Freshman Bryce Schaum threw the ball really well in the second game but got a little unlucky. We played some bad defense behind him and his pitch count got a little high. Kyle McKinnon took over and did a really nice job, which was good to see. Freshman pitcher Ben Massogilia struggled a little, James Lindenmuth, another freshman, came in with the bases loaded and threw very well and threw strikes. For the most part, our pitching was pretty good today. At the plate, a lot of our young guys took sort of beating today, but they'll be better for it."
The Firebirds conclude their three-game trip to the 2022 RussMat Central Florida Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 27 with a 10 a.m., EST contest against Bates College (1-1), also at the Chain of Lakes Park Stadium.