Senior Joe DeFelice knocked in two runs, scored three and struck out the last ten batters of the game in relief as Holley defeated East Rochester 6-2 to win the Class CC Section V baseball title.
The Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning as Jon Bower led off with a single to left field, stole second and advanced to third on a fielder’s choice. DeFelice tripled him home and later scored on an RBI single by Lucas Silvis.
ER scored once in the first and once in the third inning to tie the contest 2-2. The Bombers then threatened in the fourth with runners at second and third with one out, but Hawks starting pitcher Dylan Hillabush worked out of trouble inducing a 63 groundout with the infield in and a foul-out to catcher Josh Porter to end the inning.
The Hawks took the lead for good in the sixth as DeFelice collected an infield hit – Holley’s first since the first inning – and went to second base on an errant pickoff attempt. Silvis singled him home and later went to second on a fielder’s choice before Justin Parker had a clutch two-out hit over the second baseman’s head to drive in the run and put the Hawks up 4-2.
They plated two more insurance runs in the seventh with a two-out rally started on a fielding error. DeFelice tripled home the run and Silvis followed with his third RBI hit for the 6-2 lead.
But they wouldn’t need the insurance as DeFelice came on in relief and struck out ten batters in three innings (one batter reached on a strikeout-wild pitch).
“This (the title) was a goal since the beginning and this team has been working hard ever since and it’s exciting,” DeFelice said. “I tried to stay composed (on the mound). We have a little saying ‘never get comfortable’ and that’s what I was trying to do.
“Silvis is clutch all the time. He likes those big moments and is always ready for them – that’s the type of guy he is – and he always comes through.”
“I wanted Dylan to get us a good start, get some runs and I wanted to bring in my best when it came to crunch time,” Class CC Coach of the Year Jason Cole said. “That was the best I’ve seen him (DeFelice) throw all year. We developed a curve ball this year and he used it appropriately.”
DeFelice was named the regular season and tournament Most Valuable Player. The Coach of the Year honor is Cole’s second.
The team posed for a team photo on the Dwyer Stadium field after the win with a totem pole – a pickup from their trip to Myrtle Beach in April.
“My first sectional winning team had a piggy bank and they see that in my office and they wanted to win sectionals and found a symbol for this season. They rub it before the game for good luck.
“We kept making it to the semifinals and losing out. Our main goal for this group coming back was to push through the end and get to that next step. I’m proud of these guys.”
The Hawks season ended in the Class C state qualifier game with a 6-3 loss to Geneseo. Silvis, DeFelice, Porter and Bower all finished their high school athletic careers.
