LIVINGSTON MANOR — Eldred continued their hot start to the season on Friday afternoon as they traveled to Livingston Manor to take on the Wildcats.

After a big win over Seward on Thursday afternoon, the Yellowjackets were raring to go on Friday as they took on their Class D rivals.

Eldred drew first blood in the top of the first after a leadoff single and a double drove in the first run of the game. Anthony Zamenick, on the mound for the Wildcats, worked out of the jam, limiting the damage to just the one run.

In the home half of the first, Zamenick led off the game with a single of his own, scoring on a sacrifice fly by Aiden Johnston to tie the game at one apiece.

Eldred plated two runs in the second inning, thanks to a walk and an error and opportunistic baserunning from the bottom of the order. 

Manor’s bats cooled off, with Mason McKerrell settling in on the mound. The pitcher worked around a single to strand a Wildcat on second and get out of the inning unscathed.

Josh Warming kicked off the third inning with his second double in as many at bats, as he and another Yellowjacket would come around to score in the 3rd to make it 5-1.

Manor had a few runners reach base in the third, but were unable to cut into Eldred’s lead before the inning ended on a swinging strikeout.

Zamenick took the mound in the top of the fourth and promptly struck out the side, the first clean inning of the day for the Wildcats.

McKerrell worked around a walk in the bottom of the fourth, stranding the runner on second with another efficient inning.

Manor’s defense made three quick outs in the top of the fifth inning to keep the score 5-1, but in the home half of the inning were still unable to break through, going down 1-2-3 themselves.

Zamenick issued a walk in the 6th inning, but was able to strand the Yellowjacket at second, getting out of the inning quickly.

McKerrell conceded a leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth, but bounced back and got three straight outs to send the game to the seventh, still holding onto a 5-1 lead.

The Yellowjackets added three insurance runs in the top of the 7th, with the top of the order coming around to score.

With an 8-1 lead and three outs to go, Eldred took the field and promptly worked a scoreless 7th to earn the win. Warming ended the game with a diving catch to put a stamp on the league win.

“We put up a run early but our bats went cold after that,” Livingston Manor Coach Dylan Smith said. “We made a few mistakes here and there that made it 8-1. There are a couple things to build on, but we’ll be back.”

After the win, Eldred Coach Dylan Newman said, “McKerrell dominated on the mound. He threw strikes to get ahead of batters and his curveball was moving well today. Our bats came alive late and we put the bat on the ball well.” 

McKerrell ended the day with seven strikeouts, allowing just one run in the complete game effort.

Warming reached base three times in the win, two doubles and a fielder’s choice, scoring twice in the win.

Zamenick tossed six innings, striking out six and giving up five runs.