Bats Come Alive as Monroe Breezes to DH Sweep

HENRIETTA, N.Y. -- Patrick Sherron (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) hadn't climbed the mound for live action in nearly three weeks. A dozen games into the 2023 season, and Monroe Community College's top arm from a year ago had thrown just 5.2 innings. 

On Tuesday afternoon, Sherron got a chance to test himself against an opposing lineup. The 5-foot-11 right-hander looked at home back on top of the hill. 

Sherron hurled three shutout innings in Game 2 of a doubleheader sweep as host Monroe Community College (7-7) defeated Utica College JV 6-1 and 14-0.

"It felt good to get back out there and face some hitters today," he said. 

The sophomore struck out four over three shutout innings. He allowed two hits and one walk. 

A year ago, Sherron hurled a pair of complete games and tossed five or more innings in five of his nine starts. He finished 2022 with a record of 4 wins and 2 losses along with one save in his only relief appearance. 

He allowed two runs on two hits in two innings and took the loss in an 11-1 setback against Olney Central College in the season opener. Two days later, he got roughed up for seven runs (five earned) on seven hits over 3.2 innings.

"I was still trying to find my stuff," he said. "I wasn't really feeling any of my pitches earlier in the year, but now I'm starting to get back into it."

On Tuesday afternoon, he retired eight of the 11 batters he faced and allowed just one ball out of the infield.

"Earlier in the year, I was throwing more of a slurvy-slider but now I'm starting to throw more of a sweeper and trying to get more swing-and-miss on it," he said of the adjustment between outings. "It's just better for my arm slot because I'm a low three-quarter guy, so it's going to induce more swing and miss."

Sherron surrendered a leadoff double to start the second inning then retired the final six batters he faced.

"The slurvy is going to be a lot slower," he said. "People were sitting back on it more and just getting hits off it. I'm going with the sweeper to have it go better with my arm slot.

"I was trying to throw it a little harder than I have been in the past, so I was adjusting my arm speed and release point together. In the third inning it started to click." 

Monroe's offense gave Sherron all the run support he needed and then some in the first inning when the Tribunes sent 16 to the plate.

Alex Simons (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder), who finished the day going 5-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored connected on a one-out, two-run single as MCC scored 11 in the first.

Tobey Wright (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) drove in three runs with a pair of triples in the first frame. Connor Sackett (Rochester, N.Y./Fairport) and Patrick May (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) had an RBI double apiece in the outburst. Connor Kiefer (Buffalo, N.Y./City Honors) plated two with a single while Joe Grzeskowiak (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) and Dylan Wanat (Buffalo, N.Y./Williamsville North) both had run-scoring singles.

May, Sackett and Wright each had two hits as part of an 11-hit attack in the win.

He Zang (HenNan, China/Nanjing Dongshang Foreign Language School) struck out and did not allow a hit over two scoreless innings of relief work.

Ian McNabb (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) started and hurled three shutout innings in Game 1. The left-hander retired seven of the first eight he faced and finished with six strikeouts while allowing a hit and a walk. McNabb struck out 32 and walked 19 in 23.1 innings a year ago. Arm soreness kept the sophomore off the mound until last Friday. He has started the season with five scoreless innings.

Ryan Stewart (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn High) allowed one run on three hits and a walk over three innings of work. The left-hander struck out four. Christian Blatter (Rochester, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit) struck out one in a scoreless frame.

CJ Phelps (Rochester, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit) went 2-for-3 including an RBI triple and a run scored. Avery Bowens (Rochester, N.Y./Eastridge) doubled and scored a run.

Kiefer drove in three runs and scored two more on the day with two hits including a triple. May doubled, walked, scored four runs and drove in another. Wright had three hits, three RBI and three runs scored. Wanat singled, walked, drove in two runs and came home twice.

Sackett was 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Joe Grzeskowiak (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) drove in a run with a base hit and later scored. Julien Mendoza (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport High) walked and scored a run.

Monroe heads to Maryland for a pair of doubleheaders with Region XX teams over the weekend. The Tribunes will face Anne Arundel Community College (15-17 including 13-5 at home) on Friday before facing Frederick Community College (18-3) on Saturday. Frederick is ranked No. 5 NJCAA Division II.