AMSTERDAM — The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake baseball team showcased their unstoppable offense.
In a thrilling first round of the Section 2 Class AA baseball tournament against Amsterdam on Thursday evening, Burnt Hills made a remarkable comeback after the Rams secured an early lead, and the Spartans maintained their momentum till the end.
A spectacular grand slam by senior Timmy Venditti in the sixth inning was the icing on the cake in a 15-9 victory for Burnt Hills.
“This was a collective team victory and we played exceptionally well,” Venditti commented. “We fought hard throughout the game and consistently scored runs every inning. We truly gave it our all today.”
Despite Amsterdam initiating the scoring with a three-run in the first inning, Burnt Hills retaliated with four runs in the second inning. Venditti made his first significant contribution to the game with a two-out, two-run single, giving the Spartans a 4-3 lead.
Burnt Hills further extended their lead with three more runs in the third inning, before Jude Flint hit a solo home run for Amsterdam, reducing the Rams’ deficit to 7-4.
“Both teams entered the game believing it would be a closely contested match, and that’s exactly what unfolded,” Amsterdam coach Robby Hisert observed.
Burnt Hills managed to stretch its lead to 11-4, scoring two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. However, Amsterdam made a comeback with three runs in the fifth inning, bringing the score to 11-7.
Venditti’s grand slam in the sixth inning was the final nail in the coffin, securing the Spartans’ first round playoff victory.
“I had to take a quick break, and when I returned, I think it helped us regain our momentum,” Venditti said, referring to the moments before his grand slam. “We were losing steam, and I believe it gave us the boost we needed to secure the win.”
Venditti had an impressive game, going 2 for 4 with six RBIs, while Ben Yerina went 3 for 4. Logan McNeal went 2 for 5 with a double and three RBIs, and both Christopher Puliafico and Silas Marvin contributed two hits and an RBI each.
Last year, Burnt Hills and Amsterdam faced off in the first round of the 2023 Section 2 Class A tournament, with the Spartans dominating with a 14-0 mercy rule win.
This year’s match was a different story.
“I knew they were seeking revenge,” Venditti said of Amsterdam. “We had to stop them in their tracks.”
For Amsterdam, in addition to Flint’s home run, Logan Miller went 3 for 4, while Patrick Vidulich went 2 for 4. Ross Sanders contributed 2 for 4 with two RBIs, and Giomar Objio went 1 for 4 with two RBIs.
The Rams concluded their season with a 6-12 overall record.
“This team has been consistent all year,” Hisert said. “They never let their highs get too high or their lows too low. They never let mistakes bother them or felt satisfied with a good day. They showed up every day to improve.”
Burnt Hills, with an 8-12 overall record and the No. 10 seed in Class AA, advances to face No. 2 Bethlehem in the quarterfinals on Saturday at 1 p.m.
“I didn’t want today to be our last day,” Venditti said of his team’s win. “We’re determined to keep pushing forward.”
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 043 224 0 – 15 14 0
Amsterdam 301 030 2 – 9 10 2
Great win for Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake! Their offense was unstoppable. #domination
Agree – BHBL’s offense was on fire! It was an impressive victory.
Great job BHBL, they really dominated in that game! #offenseonfire