York advances behind Comstock’s complete game

YORK – In a game played over two days due to rain, Dallas Comstock tossed a complete game to lead York to a 6-4 win over Wheatland-Chili in the first round of the Section V Class C baseball tournament. Comstock surrendered just three earned runs on six hits while striking out seven batters.

The game started Monday under the threat of rain, and leadoff hitter Patrick Dishaw nearly brought rain with a booming triple to open York’s half of the first. Dishaw scored on a sacrifice fly by Cody Harris, and after a single by Andrew Short, Neil Craft smashed another triple for York that gave The Golden Knights a quick 2-0 lead.

However, just two batters later, the skies unleashed a thundery downpour causing umpires to suspend the game until Tuesday.

York didn’t allow the weather to spoil their hot start from Monday, as the Golden Knights’ added two more runs in the second inning after the game resumed. The home bats went cold during the middle innings, but with Comstock cruising on the bump, it looked like four runs would be enough to secure a win.

Wheatland-Chili finally got to Comstock in the fifth when James Ferro ripped an RBI triple to right then scored on a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 4-2.

York took advantage of two Wheatland-Chili errors in the sixth to push the lead back to four at 6-2. Comstock allowed two runs in a laborious final inning but was able to induce a pop up to first baseman Chad Eaton to end the game.

Coach Ryan Conway was pleased his team didn’t allow the weather to affect their concentration.

“Three years ago we were in Dundee, we had a lead, got rained out, came home, had to go back the next day, and we were just not the same team,” he said. “Today, fortunately, we were able to not let the lead get to our heads, and I think we took advantage of (the early lead) when we got back here.”

York will travel to Shortsville tomorrow (May 23) to take on second-seeded Red Jacket at 4:30 p.m.

Conway said he doesn’t know much about Red Jacket but is confident his team can play well behind tomorrow’s scheduled starter, Tyler Shutts.

“We have to get a good pitching performance tomorrow, and if we start there, that’s going to keep us in the game,” he said. “Hopefully we manage to get a good inning – a big inning would be nice – and take advantage of mistakes the defense gives us like we did today.”