With a 13-2 victory over Sidney on Sunday at Conlon Field in Binghamton, Oneonta's Legion team avenged a regular-season loss and took a big step toward winning its second District Six title in four years.
Ben Moxley threw a two-hitter that included eight strikeouts and two walks, and Zach Pidgeon and Mike Calkins homered to lead the Green Wave, who lost by a 13-2 count to Sidney earlier this season. Moxley (4-2) took the loss in that game.
"He asked for the assignment," Oneonta coach Mike Jester said of Moxley, a right-hander who earned Class B state Player of the Year honors after leading Oneonta High to a Class B state championship in June. "He hasn't pitched in the last 10 days. His arm was a little tender. He came back as strong as ever. His fastball was the best it's been all summer. He had command right from the start."
Oneonta (23-10), which had a first-round bye, advanced to the winners' bracket final in the eight-team, double-elmination tournament. It will play Vestal at 7 tonight at Conlon Field. If Oneonta _ which beat Vestal to win in the 2009 District Six title _ wins, it will have two chances to win the tournament against the team that emerges from the losers' bracket.
Sidney's Andy Kozak tied the score at 1 with a two-out homer to center in the first inning.
The Green Wave then scored three runs in the second inning off of losing pitcher Tyler Hymers, who beat Oneonta during the regular season. Pidgeon singled in the second and scored on a double to right-center by Ryne Rivino. Later in the inning, Sean Getman's two-run single made it 4-1.
Pidgeon homered to right in the third inning to make it 5-1. Calkins contributed a two-run homer in the seventh that Jester said landed on the eastbound lane of Route 434 behind the right-field fence.
David Wright, Pidgeon and Calkins had three hits apiece, and Moxley and Rivino each finished with two hits.
Sidney (18-8) will play in a losers' bracket game at 4 p.m. today against Binghamton Post 1645 or Hancock.
Oneonta 13, Sidney 2
DISTRICT SIX TOURNAMENT AT CONLON FIELD
Oneonta ..... 131 420 2 _ 13 14 3
Sidney ..... 101 000 0 _ 2 2 1
Ben Moxley (W,4-2) and Zach Pidgeon. Tyler Hymers (L), Matt Vogel (5) and Lucas DeJoy. 2B _ Ryne Rivino (O). HR _ Andy Kozak (S), Zach Pidgeon (O), Mike Calkins (O).
Sidney 2, Homer 1
Dan Shelton allowed one run over 9 1/3 innings and Lucas Butcher hit a walkoff single in the 12th inning as Sidney won its opener in the District Six Tournament on Saturday at Conlon Field.
Shelton allowed five hits, struck out one and overcame seven walks. Andy Kozak followed with 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to get the win.
Homer starter Marcus Warner struck out 19 and walked three, allowing one run on three hits over 10 innings. Sidney forced extras with a run in the ninth inning.
Andy Kozak walked to start the ninth and stole second. DaShon Boyles then reached on an error by the shortstop as Kozak scored the tying run.
In the 12th, Boyles again reached on a two-base throwing error by the shortstop. After Dylan VanPelt walked, both runners moved up on a sacrifice by Corbin Palmer. Matt Vogel flied to left for the second out before Butcher's single ended it.
Sidney 2, Homer 1
DISTRICT SIX TOURNAMENT AT CONLON FIELD
Homer ..... 000 000 100 000 _ 1 6 3
Sidney ..... 000 000 001 001 _ 2 4 1
Marcus Warner, Jon Warner (11,L) and AJ Malone. Dan Shelton, Andy Kozak (10,W) and Matt Vogel.
