Cobleskill, N.Y.: The SUNY Cobleskill baseball team closed out their 2023 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) season on Friday afternoon by splitting a pair of games with the Kangaroos of SUNY Canton at Fighting Tiger Field taking the first game 2-1 in eight innings then falling in the nightcap by a 6-4 margin. With the split the Fighting Tigers claim their third consecutive NAC Western Division Championship with a 20-13 overall record including a 13-2 record in league action while the Kangaroos are now 11-21 with an 8-7 record in conference play.

With the game tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth, senior third baseman Frank Leger, Bronx, All Hallows High School, led off with a two-base throwing error on Canton third baseman Dylan Allen, Massapequa, N.Y., then advanced to third on a bunt single by sophomore centerfielder Zach Ducorsky, Oceanside, N.Y., Oceanside High School, bringing up junior left fielder Matthew Snyder, Latham, N.Y., Shaker High School, with a chance to win the game in walk-off fashion.

The Fighting Tiger junior did not disappoint the home crowd ripping the third pitch of the at-bat down the right field line versus a drawn-in infield to give Cobleskill the victory.

In a game where the Cobleskill offense could manage only three hits, the pitching staff held Canton in check as junior reliever Jason Treffiletti, Cohoes, N.Y., Shaker High School, pitched a scoreless eighth inning to record the victory after senior starter Devin Lewis, Cobleskill, N.Y., Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, worked the first seven innings allowing one earned run on eight hits while striking out nine and walking no one.

At the plate Matthew Snyder went 1-for-4 with both of the Fighting Tigers while Frank Leger was 1-for-4 with the winning one scored. Zach Ducorsky was the other contributor offensively going 1-for-3 with a walk, two stolen bases and a run scored.

In the nightcap, the Kangaroos hopped out to a 6-1 lead after five innings the held on for the victory as Canton starter Kayden Guerin, Altona, N.Y., went 6.1 innings to record the victory with relief help from senior Gavin Neuland, Oswego, N.Y., who closed out the game to notch the save.

Cobleskill sophomore third baseman Logan Hutter, Smithtown, N.Y., Smithtown West High School, went 1-for-3 with a double a stolen base and a pair of RBI while centerfielder Zach Ducorsky finished the day by going 2-for-3 with three stolen bases and a run scored.

The Fighting Tigers will next be in action on Wednesday May 3 when they host the Giants of Keystone College for their last regular season contest at Fighting Tiger Field beginning at 3:30 p.m.