TROY, NY – The Empire State Greys took on the Tri-City ValleyCats in their final spring training matchup. The two clubs faced each other Friday in a fourteen-inning exhibition and have agreed to play twelve and a half today. Throughout the extended game, many positive signs for the club were shown on all sides of the ball. Many arms out of the bullpen impressed, the defense made an accumulation of highlight reel plays, and the team’s gap to gap power was on display.

Michael Barker took the mound as the starting pitcher for the exhibition. He displayed the ability to bounce back and pitched the second and third without allowing a run. This was in part to a run saving sliding catch made by center fielder Eric Jenkins to end the third and bring Barker’s Day to an end. Another run saving diving catch was made in the fourth inning by right fielder Eric Jenkins to help out relief pitcher Jhoendri Herrera. Herrera had a solid inning of work and was able to work out of a jam. The fifth was designated to LHP Carson Ferry, who impressed by facing just four batters and striking out two of them. Ferry also got help from his defense as DiSarcina made a diving stop at third base and threw out the runner with a strong throw from the ground to end the inning. Zach Gettys was given the 6^th inning out of the pen. Gettys demonstrated a great move to first base and was able to pick a runner off. Wilbur Perez had a solid ninth inning striking out two with great off-speed pitches. In the additional three innings played, all three arms for the Greys were lights out. LHP Tanner Propst impressed in the 10^th with his side arm release and disappearing slider, Miguel Rondon mixed his fastball and slider well in the 11^th, and Nick Trabacchi blew hitters away with his overpowering fastball in the 12^th. 

Five different Greys impressed at the plate throughout the game. Following his home run on Friday, Josh Sears showed off his power once again. Leading off the second inning, Sears took a high fastball the other way and deposited it into the Greys bullpen, a 2 run shot. Three and a half hours and ten innings later, Josh did it again but this time cleared the bullpen out in right field. John Mead also had a great day at the plate. Mead doubled to right field in both the fourth and seventh innings. Steve Barmakian and JR DiSarcina provided offense in the eighth. Barmakian hit a double to right center field and was immediately followed by DiSarcina’s home run to the deepest part of the yard. Outfielder Matt Turner provided two singles, including a bases loaded two RBI knock in the top of the 12^th. 

​The Greys will start regular season action Friday May 12^thagainst the Ottawa Titans.

Article by Greys Media