FIFTY YEARS AGO…
Generals Nine Records First Wins of Season
by Win Hadley
FALLSBURG, May 2022 — It was Saturday, May 6, 1972—50 years ago this month—that the Sullivan County Community College baseball team recorded its first two conference victories of the season by sweeping a doubleheader from Rockland County Community College at the Fallsburg High School field.
Interestingly, the two wins both came by 2-1 scores. The victories left the Generals with a 2-6 slate in conference play, and 4-9 overall.
In the opener, Generals rightfielder Eric Weigel, batting eighth in the order, slammed a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning to give pitcher Frank Wolfe all the support he needed in a four-hit, two-walk, 12-strikeout performance. It was Wolfe who scored ahead of Weigel on the blast, which was one of only three hits in the game for Sullivan.
Rockland’s lone score in the game came on a third inning home run by shortstop Ron Fucci.
In the second game, Sullivan outhit Rockland six to five, and centerfielder Ralph Andrews scored both runs for the Generals.
In the first inning of that contest, Andrews, batting second in the order, singled, stole second, and came around to score on a single by catcher Dan Pettricione. Andrews’ single was one of his three hits in the game. His single in the third inning led to the other Sullivan run, as he again stole second and then scored on a single by second baseman Rich Chiara.
Andy Branca was the winning pitcher for the Generals in the second game, giving up five hits and the lone run, while striking out nine and walking four.
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