PLATTSBURGH — One big swing from Jake Richards helped make it a successful day for the Clinton County Senior Mariners baseball team.
Richards clubbed a three-run homer to provide the margin of difference in the Mariners’ 4-3 win over the Ottawa Knights Saturday at Lefty Wilson Field in the Annual Mehan/Turner Memorial Wooden Bat Tournament.
Earlier in the day, the Mariners rolled to a 12-4 victory over Estacades de Trois-Rivieres, giving Clinton County a 2-0 record as the lone unbeaten team remaining in the Mehan Division.
Brian Latulipe rapped out five hits on the day for the Mariners, including a home run, double, single with three RBI against Trois-Rivieres, and a pair of doubles against the Knights.
“Latulipe is on fire right now,” said Mariners coach John Flynn.
Richards, however, had the key hit against Ottawa when he erased a 2-1 Clinton County deficit with a long three-run homer to right in the bottom of the third to put the Mariners ahead to stay.
“Richards came through for us,” said Flynn. “We put the Bash Brothers (Chris Roenbeck and Richards) back-to-back in the line-up and it paid off for us.”
Will Flynn allowed four singles and struck out nine in going the distance for the pitching win against Ottawa.
“Will pitched well,” said Flynn. “He walked a couple in the first inning, but then settled in after that.”
Latulipe, Richards, C.J. Worley and Ben Weightman all rapped out two hits each for the Mariners.
“Weightman caught a great game behind the plate,” said Flynn.
Against Trois-Rivieres, the Mariners scored five runs in the first inning and never looked back.
Kasey Favreau fanned seven and surrendered five hits in going the seven innings for the pitching win.
“Kasey looked good,” said Flynn. “He struggled a little in the fifth, but battled. I left him out there to see how much he would battle and he passed the test.”
Latulipe and Flynn led Clinton County with three hits each, while Roenbeck and Robby Knowles chipped in with two hits each. Roenbeck had a double and three RBI, while Knowles also doubled.
The Mariners oppose Parkhurst Post today at 11 a.m. and then Franklin County Post at 4 p.m., both at Wilson Field.
The championship game is set for 7 p.m. at Wilson Field between the winners of the Mehan and Turner Divisions.
In other games Saturday in the Mehan Division, Trois-Rivieres recorded an 8-5 victory over Franklin County Post, Ottawa was a 4-1 winner over Parkhurst Post and Franklin County Post defeated Parkhurst Post by a 6-3 score.
In the Turner Division, Essex Junction Post is the lone unbeaten team with a 2-0 mark following a 2-0 win over the Hudson Valley Renegades and a 4-2 triumph over the Tri-County Eagles.
In other action, Hudson Valley posted a 6-4 victory over Malone Post #219, Tri-County a 10-0 decision over the Montreal Titans U19 and Malone Post #219 a 9-6 win over Montreal.
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Mariners 12, Trois-Rivieres 4
Trois-Rivieres 000 130 0 — 4 5 2
Mariners 501 320 x —12 13 0
Desileys, Loranger (5) and Bellerive. Favreau and Roenbeck. WP- Favreau. LP- Desileys. 2B- Beliard (TR), Latulipe (M), Roenbeck (M), Knowles (M). HR- Latulipe (M).
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Mariners 4, Ottawa 3
Ottawa 200 100 0 — 3 4 0
Mariners 103 000 x — 4 9 0
Moore and McLean. Flynn and Weightman. WP- Flynn. LP- Moore. 2B- Latulipe (M) 2, HR- Richards (M).
