Photo Courtesy of Josh McKee
The Hamilton College baseball team is off to a strong 2–0 start after sweeping Clarkson in a double-header this past weekend, including a thrilling walk-off victory in the first game.
The Continentals battled with the Golden Knights of Clarkson in game one, which featured multiple lead changes. In the top of the ninth, Tommy Bianchi of Clarkson led off with a triple and eventually scored, making it 5–4 in Clarkson’s favor. The Continentals were resilient, though, and put two men on base in the bottom frame. A ten-pitch at bat from Jordan Northrup ’19 garnered an infield single that loaded the bases, setting up Rich Marooney ’21 to pinch hit.
It was 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth — a situation every baseball player dreams of as a kid. Marooney recognized the pitch patterns of the Clarkson lefty and after seeing his curveball-fastball combo twice, he laced a single up the middle, scoring two runs and securing the Continentals’ first victory in their first game of the season with a score of 6–5 and a dog pile behind second base.
Game two of the double-header was less exciting, as the Continentals coasted to a 6–1 victory after a hit from Jarrett Lee ’21 plated three runs. The Golden Knights ran out of steam after the game one defeat, but both teams combined for just six hits in game two compared to 25 in game one.
The Continentals will face Southern Vermont (0–3–1) at home on Thursday, March 14 at the Loop Road Baseball and Softball Complex in Clinton, N.Y. After the game on Thursday, the team flies to Orlando for a two-week spring break trip. Though the trip is a break from academics, it consists of 14 baseball games in warm, sunny central Florida.
Hamilton will play two games against Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, a single game against Bard, The College of New Jersey (who are nationally ranked,) Centre College, and Rutgers-Camden. They will also play double-headers against Illinois Tech and St. Joseph’s, as well as a conference series against Middlebury College.
Last year, the Continentals started the season 0–7 in Florida with a young, inexperienced team and some positional changes; however, they finished the rest of the season 17–17. This year, the team looks to beat Southern Vermont and head into the Florida trip with a clean 3–0 record and momentum to boot. The trip to Auburndale, F.L. is always a test as the team plays several regionally- and nationally-ranked opponents.
The Continentals were 4–8 in NESCAC play last year, but they suffered several one-run losses that could have gone the other way. This year, the team returns many starters and looks to use their experience and off-season improvements to their advantage in conference play.
Keys to the Hamilton’s success this year will be health, efficient pitching, and a lack of defensive errors. The offensive lineup is capable of damage from top to bottom, but if they can take advantage of some new first-year arms and healthy returners, the pitching staff will be lethal as well.
Carter King ’19, one of the team’s captains, says: “Our goal as a team this year is nothing different than what it has been in the past: a championship. But this year, things are looking a little different in a good way.”
The energy and focus Hamilton is bringing to their practices and games is something King commends and says will take them a long way this season. Since the Northeast is not ideal weather for baseball, the Middlebury series is taking place in central Florida for the first time.
Hamilton was swept by the Panthers last year late in the season after being mathematically eliminated from the NESCAC playoffs. This year, they look to maintain a clean record heading into the series with a few off days beforehand to prepare. The match up also represents the latest installment in the Han brothers duel: former NESCAC player of the year, Justin Han, returns for the Panthers and Jacob Han ’21 returns for the Continentals.
Last year, the Continentals showed spurts of occasional greatness. This year, the team is looking to add consistent greatness, energy, and intensity, no matter their opponent.
First-year Adam Wijaya ’22 says: “We are going to be great. Our offense has experience and poise; our defense will be as strong as ever, and we are going to spray.”
Hamilton is ready for an exciting 2019 season and hopes to do some damage in Florida and back on Hill for the NESCAC playoffs.
