Record photographer J.S. Carras captured a series of images when Nolan Gaige hit a three-run home run in the third inning of Friday's pool play game against the Hudson Valley Renegades in the Connie Mack World Series Qualifier played at Geer Field. For video of the hit and full standings after two days of play, scroll below.

Gaige makes contact with the pitch from Hudson Valley's Mike Choros.

Gaige rounds third, knowing what's awaiting him at the plate...

Members of the South Troy Dodgers team congratulate Gaige on his three-run home run in the third inning.

Nolan Gaige, a lefthanded throwing and hitting outfielder and pitcher for South Troy, collected three of the Dodgers’ five hits in the victory over Hudson Valley. His home run was a towering shot that kept going and going and going and finally cleared the deep centerfield fence straight out from home plate.

"I knew I hit it pretty well and I knew it had a chance and I knew it was going to get over his head," he said. "Fortunately it went out and we scored three runs."

Wendell Wright throws a pitch during Friday's nightcap. He carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning and pitched his fourth straight complete game for the Dodgers.

Wright, who has thrown four straight complete games as the Dodgers’ No. 2 starter behind Dave Roseboom, buckled in the fifth inning, allowing three straight singles to open the frame. After recording a strikeout, he walked in two runs before getting out of the jam otherwise unscathed.

Those runs certainly mattered for the Dodgers, who could be fighting for a wildcard spot. South Troy brought the infield in with nobody out in the fifth because the two second place teams that have allowed the fewest runs will join the pool winners in the double elimination round.

"It was huge because I didn’t want to give up too many runs, but I did give up two runs," Wright said.

Branden Cogswell, a rising senior at Shenendehowa High School, pivots as part of a double play during the first inning of Friday's game. Second baseman Dan Priore looks on.

The Dodgers lost a heartbreaker in the morning, falling to the Cincy Flames 2-1. Steve Anderson hit a solo home run to give the Dodgers a one-run lead in the sixth inning, but Cincy took advantage of an error to take the lead and win after that.

Dan Priore (pictured above), like Wright (pictured below), a rising senior at Utica-Proctor, has quietly been pacing the Dodgers’ offense from the No. 9 hole. He doubled and drew two walks in Friday’s game against Hudson Valley, scoring two runs. He also hit a two-run triple in South Troy’s victory over the Devilcats Thursday evening.

"Our JV coach recommend us to one of the (South Troy) coaches," Priore said. "After one or two practices, they asked us if we wanted to play. It’s a good opportunity to play wood bat and get a lot of looks for colleges. It’s great."


I asked Nolan Gaige (pictued above) if there was anything particular the Capital Region locals did to make their out-of-town teammates feel at home.

"You just try to make them feel comfortable," he said. "There's not much hazing to do, not like college."

Click on the box score for a full-sized image. Click on the video below to see Gaige's home run and hear reaction from the players.

The South Colonie Raiders won both games they played Friday at South Colonie High School. We were able to get a few pictures, which are displayed below.

South Colonie's Justin Harris takes a swing during the Raiders' game against the Jack Cust Diamondjacks. (Colonie photos by Mike McMahon - The Record).

South Colonie's Jami June makes a throw during Friday morning's 7-5 victory over the Jack Cust Diamondjacks at South Colonie High School.

South Colonie's Jake Mullen attempts to get back to first base during Friday's pool play game against the Jack Cust Diamondjacks.

South Colonie's Chris Kalica, a rising senior at South Colonie High School, throws a pitch against the Jack Cust Diamondjacks. His victory, and a win by Chris Kearney later Friday evening, has kept the Raiders in the hunt for a berth into the double elimination round of the Connie Mack World Series Qualifier.

Connie Mack World Series Qualifier Scoreboard
Day Two

Pool A
Florida Legends 8, Kalamazoo Maroons 0
Northeast Mudhens 5, South Troy Dodgers 17s 3
Florida Legends 10, World Yacht Clippers 2
Northeast Mudhens 1, Kalamzaoo Maroons 0

Pool B
Cincy Flames 2, South Troy Dodgers 1
Devilcats baseball (East Greenbush) 12, Hudson Valley Renegades 4
Cincy Flames 8, Team N.Y. National 3
South Troy Dodgers 7, Hudson Valley Renegades 2

Pool C
Frozen Ropes Titans 8, Clifton Park Yankees 7
Upstate Vipers 6, Connecticut Bombers 4
Richmond County Baseball Club 10, Clifton Park Yankees 2
Frozen Ropes Titans 8, Connecticut Bombers 5 (Nine innings - won on a three-run home run)

Pool D
South Colonie 7, Jack Cust Diamondjacks 5
Long Island Tigers 4, Team N.Y. Scout 1
Jack Cust Diamondjacks 8, College Select 0
South Colonie 3, Long Island Tigers 1

The see the standings for each pool, check out the charts below.
The wildcard tiebreaker is fewest runs allowed, so I've sorted ties by that category. I also included runs scored for reference. For the full story on Friday's games, check out Saturday's edition of The Record on the newsstand.
Connie Mack World Series Qualifier Standings - Day Two

Saturday's Schedule

Pool A (At St. Rose’s Bob Bellizzi Field, Albany)
Kalamazoo Maroons vs. World Yacht Clippers, 9 a.m.
South Troy Dodgers 17s vs. Florida Legends, Noon

Pool B (Geer Field, Troy)
South Troy Dodgers vs. Team N.Y. Nationals, 9 a.m.
Devilcats Baseball (East Greenbush) vs. Cincy Flames, Noon

Pool C (Clifton Common, Clifton Park)
Frozen Ropes Titans vs. Richmond County Baseball Club, 9 a.m.
Upstate Vipers vs. Clifton Park Yankees, Noon

Pool D (South Colonie High School)
South Colonie Raiders vs. College Select, 9 a.m.
Team N.Y. Scout vs. Jack Cust Diamondjacks, Noon

Note: Seeding meeting following completion of pool play. Double elimination round begins at three sites at 6 p.m.

--
The Connie Mack Tournament isn't the only game in town. There is the Upper New York State Sandy Koufax Tournament going on in Valley Falls as well. Here is Friday's roundup, which also includes a few Little League scores.

VALLEY FALLS - Brendan Singletary tripled, singled and drove in four runs for the Lansingburgh Royals’ Sandy Koufax team in an 11-3 mercy rule victory over New Hartford in the Upper New York State Tournament played at Chapko-Lewis Stadium.
Logan Brogue and Jake Connally added a double, a single and two RBI apiece for the Royals (16-12).
Jeff Tomiano doubled, singled and drove in two runs for New Hartford (12-4).
Today, Lansingburgh faces South Colonie and the Troy Renegades will take on the Saratoga Stampede at 10 a.m. in loser bracket games.
The Bethlehem Eagles will face the South Troy Dodgers in the winner bracket championship game at 12:30.
Two games will be played at 12:30, with the matchups to be determined by Saturday’s early action.
South Troy 13, South Colonie 1: Tyler Childrose held South Colonie to one hit in a Dodgers victory in the Upper New York State Sandy Koufax Tournament.
Ryan Puentes doubled twice and drove in three runs for South Troy, while Greg Kelly added a double, a single and two RBI.
South Troy 245 02 - 13 11 2
South Colonie 001 00 - 1 1 2
Childrose and Kelly Peterson and Ryan.
District 14 9-and-10-year old ‘B’ All-Stars
East Greenbush-Castleton 18, Twin Town ‘B’ 3: Zach Schott and Kyle Fortin combined to strike out 11 Twin Town batters and the duo allowed just two hits in the victory for East Greenbush-Castleton.
Fortin added two singles and two RBI at the plate, while Chris O’Keefe hit a pair of singles and drove in one run. Nick Butler added a double and three RBI for East Greenbush-Castleton.
Jack McKenna hit a home run for Twin Town.
East Greenbush-Castleton plays Lansingburgh Monday.
Twin Town 000 003 - 3
East Greenbush-Castleton 305 55x - 18
Brunswick 14, Rensselaer 11: Jesse DuJack tripled, Nathan Nolan doubled and Thomas Eaton chipped in with two singles for Brunswick in a victory over Rensselaer.
Ari Ginsberg earned the win on the mound.
Brunswick hosts Cohoes Monday.
Brunswick 002 255 - 14
Rensselaer 105 203 - 11

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