Troy
One run allowed in the 2015 Section II Class AA final meant the first career loss for Shenendehowa pitcher Ian Anderson. Thursday night, Anderson did not allow a runner from Christian Brothers Academy to cross the plate.
Senior standouts Nik Malachowski and Joe Fraser drove in runs in the third inning to stake Anderson to the lead and the 6-foot-3 senior right-hander scattered seven hits and struck out five as the Plainsmen posted a 3-0 Class AA title triumph over the Brothers at Bruno Stadium.
After suffering a stinging 1-0 loss to rival Saratoga in last spring’s title game when Danny Hobbs outdueled Anderson, Shenendehowa was determined to once again reach the title game and prevail this time.
Shenendehowa (18-5) captured its third sectional championship in coach Greg Christodulu‘s four years as coach and advance to the state quarterfinals June 4 at Bruno Stadium vs. the Section III representative.
“I am proud of the guys. We really took it one game at a time,” said Fraser, who went 2-for-2 with a sacrifice bunt. “Sure, we had this game in the back of our minds, but we had to focus on the off-season, our scrimmages and each game. We did that.”
Unlike in 2015 when Saratoga scored in the first inning, the Plainsmen grabbed the lead against CBA (18-5). During the regular season, the Brothers defeated Shen 3-2.
Malachowski, who has produced in several capacities throughout the season, delivered a two-out RBI single in the third inning against CBA starter Elliott Raimo that plated Nick Jacques. Fraser followed by smacking a 1-2 offering from Raimo for a double that scored Malachowski.
“We faced them pretty early in the season. We got better individually and as a team,” Fraser said. “We knew when we got the chance to score, we had to do it.”
“That is huge getting the first run, and the second one was really big,” Malachowski said.
“Once (Saratoga) scored that first run last year, we sat down and put so much pressure on ourselves when we shouldn’t have. It was tough to get anything going. This year, once we had the lead, we played the game.”
A year is a long time to wait for redemption, but it was all worth it for Anderson.
“Pitching with a lead is a completely different game. There is nothing like it,” Anderson said. “I was able to relax, go after the hitters and get the job done.”
“I think he pitched a hell of a game. Ian is something special,” Malachowski said. “I am so happy he is on our team.”
Anderson (3-1) lowered his earned run average to 0.75 after registering his second shutout in four starts. He topped out at 95 miles per hour with his fastball, and consistently threw between 91-93 throughout his 105-pitch performance.
“He was locating his fastball well and was getting ahead,” Shenendehowa senior catcher Ben Anderson said of his twin brother. “We didn’t go to all of his stuff like we normally do, he looked very confident with the fastball. It is tough to hit.”
Ian Beauregard had two singles for CBA. Three of the hits for the Brothers stayed in the infield.
“I thought Ian really settled in,” Ben Anderson said. “Once he got that curveball going, which is a wipe-out pitch for him, with his two-seamer, it was going to be a good game.”
Shenendehowa closed out the game with a pair of defensive gems, from third baseman Frank Pizzo and Jacques at shortstop.
“Everything we wanted to do happened tonight,” Fraser said.
“This feels a lot better than last year,” Malachowski said.
jallen@timesunion.com • 518-454-5062 • @TUSidelines
