Vestal baseball establishes itself as number one in the STAC Metro

On paper, the Vestal baseball team looks to be the number one team in the Metro division, and historically speaking, has every right to assume that title. The Golden Bears finished last season with a 17-4 overall record, claiming not only the divisional title but the conference title as well. Having started the season with an 8-3 overall record, courtesy of an elite outfield squad and the versatility of elite players like Colin Fimbres, Henry Lay and Gavin Brady, the Golden Bears seem to be on track to dominate as they have in prior seasons.

But not without being checked by Maine-Endwell. The Spartans, who also share the number one spot in the division and also posted an 8-3 overall record heading into the matchup, had a history of sectional titles and a state title (2024) to live up to entering the three-game series that ultimately put Vestal at the top of the Metro division with a 9-3 record. More: Southern Tier Baseball Players to Watch & Games to Catch in April Game 1: Vestal got the victory at home by a hair A last-minute single in the bottom of the eighth by Vestal’s Gavin Brady gave the Golden Bears a 4-3 walk-off victory against Maine-Endwell on Monday, April 27.

Maine-Endwell’s first run on the board, via a single by Max Policare in the top of the third, was immediately followed by three runs from Vestal, with Josh Kweller (singled) scoring two runs and Parker Terrell (doubled) scoring one to leave the score at 3-1 up until the bottom of the fourth. Michael Jamba, who singled to center field, put Maine-Endwell back in contention by tying the game 3-3 in the top of the fifth inning. Both teams went scoreless throughout the sixth and seventh until Maine-Endwell’s late error, giving up a run on a hit to the Golden Bears, who won the first game of the series.

Game 2: Maine-Endwell’s “no room for error” game The Spartans, taking a turn on their home turf, left no room for Vestal to say they came close. Maine-Endwell’s starting pitcher, Josh Mooney, struck out eight and allowed only two hits and zero runs over seven innings to shut out the Golden Bears 6-0 on April 30. More: M-E baseball player voted Guthrie Athlete of Week for April 11-17 At bat, Maine-Endwell’s Mason Little, Jackson Buckley, and Max Policare led the team, while several players, including Joey Chesna and Michael Jamba, capitalized on the kind of pitching errors that had the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth.