Navy Yard crushes Beacons, 26-12

ROLLINSFORD -- For five innings, Beacons fans were treated to a good game Friday between the home town team and Navy Yard, the defending league champions.
But as quickly as the Beacons mounted an impressive seven run surge in the fifth inning to pull within two runs of Navy Yard at 13-11, Navy Yard pounded Beacons relief pitcher Phil Fernald with two grand slams to propel them to an impressive 26-12 win.
To say this was a tough game to let slip away is almost an understatement for the Beacons who now fall to 0-2. But for Navy Yard, Friday's win was about righting their ship after they came into the game at 2-2 after dropping games to Post 47 and Chumley's.
But they would have to earn this victory thanks to the relentless baserunning of Beacons center fielder Jason Claffey and a big, three-run blast by Beacons left fielder Sonny Ecker that cleared the left centerfield fence in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Beacons starting pitcher Bob Cook got off to a shaky start in the first inning, surrendering four runs and a few walks. But then Cook settled down and only gave up modest runs the rest of the way. The Beacons also displayed some good defense to keep Navy Yard from scoring too many runs.
Beacons fans were thrilled when the team mounted an impressive comeback in the bottom of the fifth inning spurred by a combination of walks, singles and Ecker's first homerun of the 2009 campaign.
But then Beacons Coach Bob Cook made a questionable move in the top of the sixth inning when he removed himself from the mound and gave way to reliever Phil Fernald.
Fernald threw plenty of strikes, but then Navy Yard's offense took over and sprayed sharp hits all over the field. Before Beacons fans knew it, the game was out of hand after Navy Yard hitters connected on not one, but two grand slams in the sixth and seventh innings.
By the time Navy Yard's barrage was over, the Beacons suffered a 26-12 loss.
"I am still pleased that we played as well as we did with those guys for five innings," said Cook after the game. "They have a tremendous offense and they are the defending league champions. We made it a game for most of the game and we just couldn't hold them back."
When asked if he should have taken himself out of the game in the sixth inning, Cook replied, "I don't think it would have mattered either way."
Claffey was disappointed the Beacons couldn't find a way to hold off Navy Yard, but was still glad he was able to spur the team's offense on the basepaths, Claffey scored four of the team's 12 runs.
"I just did what coach wanted me to do. My job is to get hits and take the extra base when I can to put pressure on the other team and this week I was able to do that," the second year outfielder said as he stood by his locker with a can of Bud Light in his hand.
At 0-2, the Beacons have a chance to reach 500 this Sunday when they a double header at GoldStar Park versus P. Hussey and Station House at 3:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. respectively.
Beacons fans can pay a single admission to attend both games.