Beacons blasted by Merrill's Radiator, 22-7

ROLLINSFORD -- The Beacons battled to within four runs of Merrill's Radiator Wednesday in the bottom of the third inning only to see the lead balloon to 14 runs an inning later before succumbing to a 22-7 defeat.
The sensational catches made by center fielder Jason Claffey and left fielder Sonny Ecker and the 3-3 hitting display put on by pitcher Bob Cook were all for naught after the home half of the third when the Beacons closed the gap to 11-7.
Despite having three women players, one less outfielder and being forced to take an out in the batting line-up at GoldStar Park, the Beacons still flashed some good defense, strong pitching and timely hitting to stay close. In the end, Merrill's Radiator's hitting attack was just too much for the Beacons, who fell to 0-4.
Claffey, a stand-out Beacons rookie, had another great game in center and at the plate. He made two running catches in deep right center field, robbing Merrill's Radiator hitters of extra bases and also made a spectacular diving catch in short center field to rob another hitter of a sure single. Claffey also demonstrated his speed and turned a double into a triple.
Ecker also made a great catch in left when he ran a long way toward the fence and made an over the shoulder grab to rob another hitter of extra bases.
Cook pitched the entire game with catcher Jessica Singer as his catcher and threw no less than 75 pitches, striking out two batters. But not even a veteran pitcher like Cook could keep Merrill's Radiator down for two long.
After falling behind 21-7 in the top of the fourth inning, Cook gave up a bomb to one Merrill's Radiator hitter that soared over the left field fence. The Beacons had one last at bat to try and score some runs, but went down one-two-three. The 15-run mercy rule was then invoked by the homeplate umpire.
"I don't think the final score really reflects this game," Beacons Manager Bob Cook said. "We battled pretty well up to the fourth inning and we put ourselves in a position to compete. We just had some defensive lapses that allowed them to score more runs than they should have."
When the last out was recorded and the game was called, Beacons players collected their gloves and bats and quietly headed to the lockerroom.
"Too many errors. It was just like a conga line when they got up," said dejected Claffey, who also made a few miscues on fly balls he lost in the sun at the beginning of the game.
The Beacons were scheduled to play a Father's Day game on Sunday versus Station House, but Cook already notified league president Ben Hazen that he would not have enough players and the game would need to be rescheduled.
The Beacons now will have to make-up three games against Post 47, Moore Construction and Station House.