Evening Sun Report

Baseball

Unadilla Valley 5, Hancock 3

HANCOCK – Unadilla Valley defeated Hancock for the second time this season Thursday, and advanced to its first Midstate Athletic Conference title game.

UV (10-3) took the lead for good with three runs in the top of the fifth. Brett Smith hit a solo homer, one of his two solo round-trippers, Brandon Miles belted a solo four-bagger two batters later, and Brandon Kuhn’s RBI double scored Zach Montgomery.

“Everything came together well in that inning,” said UV assistant coach Tom Locke. “We had some timely hitting. Four of our seven hits went for extra bases.”

Smith went the distance for the victory, and consistently worked out of harm’s way. “He worked into trouble and worked out of it,” Locke said. “I think Hancock left seven runners on base the first three innings. At one point - in the first and second innings – Brett struck out five in a row. He beared down when he needed to.”

In addition to Smith’s two solo homers, Justin Hofer had two hits and one RBI. The Storm will play Unatego or Sidney in the league title game next Thursday.

UVall 001 031 0 5 7 0

Hanc. 010 110 0 3 10 2

Brett Smith (W) and Zach Montgomery. Cole Duston (L), Tyler Phillips (6) and Chris Wadeson. Doubles: (UV) Brandon Kuhn, (H) Phillips, Eli Holton, Wadeson, Rocco Christian. HR: (UV) Brett Smith (2), Brandon Miles, (H) Warren Drake.