Nick Cody (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) made sure the Tompkins Cortland Community College baseball team got the 2022 season off on the right foot Friday, striking out 13 in the opener of a doubleheader sweep of Jefferson Community College. The Panthers won by scores of 3-2 and 11-6, dropping the Cannoneers to 0-4 on the year. Jefferson was the home team for the games played at Gutchess Park in Cortlandville.
Game One: Tompkins Cortland 3, Jefferson 2
Cody had a special day from the start. After the Panthers took advantage of wildness by the Jefferson pitcher to score two runs in the top of the first, Cody struck out two as part of a perfect bottom of the inning. The Panthers put runners in scoring position in each inning of the game, but couldn't push another runner across over the next three innings. Cody kept the Cannoneers at bay until the fourth, when Jefferson took advantage of an error to open the frame to start a mini-rally that led to a pair of unearned runs. Cody kept the damage to a minimum, striking out the last two batters to keep the score tied at 2-2.
Eli Gordon (Ithaca/Ithaca H.S.) opened the top of the fifth with a single and eventually worked his way around to score, putting the Panthers back in front. It was all Cody needed as the right-hander proceeded to strike out the side the next two innings, giving him eight straight k's heading into the final inning. In the bottom of the seventh, Jefferson lead off with a double, but a pop out on a sacrifice bunt attempt, a groundout, and the record-tying 13th strikeout ended the game with a win for Cody and the Panthers.
Cody allowed just two unearned runs and three hits, and issued just two walks while striking out 13. Gordon was the lone Panther with multiple hits in game one, going 2-for-2. Lead-off hitter Jordan Shortsleeve (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) led the Panthers on the base paths, accounting for three of the team's six stolen bases.
Game Two: Tompkins Cortland 11, Jefferson 6
The Panthers struck first again in game two. In the top of the first inning, Isaiah Daniels (Atlanta, Ga./Hampton H.S.) drew a one-out walk, stole second, and came around to score on a single by Nate Macek (Pittsford/Rush Henrietta H.S.). Jefferson tied the score in the second, and then took the lead with two in the third. The fourth saw the Panthers tie things up, but the Cannoneers reclaimed the lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Trailing 4-3, the Panthers exploded in the fifth inning with the first ten batters all reaching en route to an eight-run inning. Jefferson got a pair of runs back in the bottom of the fifth, but the Panthers didn't let them any closer, finishing the game with the 11-6 win.
Dan Caverly (Farmington/Victor H.S.) earned the win on the mound, tossing five innings and striking out seven. Macek and Dylan Higgins (Trumansburg/Charles O. Dickerson H.S.) each went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Jacob Bogacz (Morrisville/Morrisville-Eaton H.S.) also went 2-for-4 with a double, adding two RBI to his stat line.
Looking ahead
The Panthers have a week before beginning West Division play with a home doubleheader vs. Jamestown Community College on Saturday, March 26.