Ballston Spa baseball falls in back-and-forth regional final
TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Ballston Spa baseball team fought to the last out in Sunday's New York State Class AA regional final, loading the bases with just one gone in the seventh inning. But a game-ending double play spoiled the Scotties' comeback bid - and their season - and resulted in a 5-3 loss to Section 3's West Genesee.
Ballston Spa did not waste any time putting pressure on the second-ranked team in state for Class AA. After James Haughton doubled and Nick Commisso singled, Nate Hill brought in the opening run of the ball game on a ground out. The Scotties added another run in the second on an error to go up 2-0.
The score remained there until the fifth inning when the Wildcats got the bats going. After three errors from the Scotties loaded the bases, Nick Meluni singled to right field to put West Genesee on the board. Ryan Tabaczyk followed that with a two-run single, moving the Wildcats in front, 3-2.
The West Genesee offense had a chance to do some more damage after Tabaczyk stole second base to move into scoring position. Colin Crinnin then singled into shallow center field, but Ballston Spa's Luigi Fiorini threw home to cut down Tabaczyk trying to score.
Crinnin managed to move up to second on the play, though, and an Austin Glowacki single drove in Crinnin, pushing the Wildcats' lead to 4-2.
West Genesee would later add an insurance run in the seventh inning on a Crinnin single to right, giving the Wildcats a three-run advantage going to the home half.
The Scotties did not back down in the final frame. Fiorini blasted a solo home run to left field to cut into the deficit and start the rally. His home run was followed by a Haughton single, a pop out and then consecutive hit batsmen to load the bases with one out.
But Crinnin, who was on the bump for West Genesee, managed to induce the game-clinching double play that ended Ballston Spa's threat, and the Scotties' memorable 2025 campaign.
Ballston Spa wraps up the year with a 19-4 record.