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Posted: May 15, 2022

Spartans’ Season Ends in Loss to Lakers 

Tyler Ziemak slides into second in Cayuga's loss to Finger Lakes CC on Sunday.
Tyler Ziemak slides into second in Cayuga's loss to Finger Lakes CC on Sunday.

View photos from the playoff series against FLCC at this link.

Cayuga Community College Baseball's season closed Sunday with a home loss to Finger Lakes Community College in the opening round of the NJCAA Region III playoffs. 

In the third game of the best-of-three series, the Spartans fell 6-2 to the Lakers, who move to the Region III Tournament starting Thursday in Little Falls. The teams split the opening games of the series on Saturday, with the Spartans taking the first game 7-3 and dropping the second, 7-5. The Spartans finished the season with a record of 27-12.

Cayuga Coach John Rizzo said he was proud of the way the team played Sunday and throughout the season, which saw them set a program record for wins and place four players on the all-conference team.

"I'm very proud of these guys and cherish the relationships we've all been able to build. Baseball will eventually fade away. I hope the lessons about being a man stay with them," said Rizzo. "Losing stings but the goodbyes with these guys are what are sitting heavy right now."

Cayuga had a chance to take an early lead Sunday but wasn't able to score after putting two runners in scoring position in the first inning. The Lakers responded by loading the bases with one out in the second inning and registering three run-scoring hits to take a commanding 5-0 lead.

Cayuga answered in the bottom of the second when Tyler Ziemak singled home Fernando Espinal, but for much of the contest Lakers' pitcher Lukas Haefner held the Spartans' lineup in check.

The Lakers scored once in the fourth to push the lead to 6-1. Cayuga put runners in scoring position in the third, fourth and seventh innings but wasn't able to capitalize. In the ninth, Cayuga pinch-hitter Derek Schumaker doubled home Ziemak to cut the Lakers' lead to 6-2 before Finger Lakes secured the final out.

Ziemak, Espinal and Leroy Glaum each went one-for-three, with Ziemak and Espinal scoring runs. Hazel Martinez and Tyler Korsky both went one-for-four, and Ziemak and Schumaker had RBIs for Cayuga.

On the mound, Keegan Ferris threw 4 2/3 innings in relief for Cayuga, allowing three earned runs and striking out five. Will Coleman and Luke Ough combined to throw three scoreless innings.