A Strategic Triumph
Chester Academy captured its first state Class B baseball championship on Saturday, defeating Medina 3‑0 at Binghamton University.
The team’s modest yet effective ‘small ball’ strategy produced single runs in the first, second and fifth innings, gradually building a lead that proved insurmountable.
At the mound, left‑hander Aiden Francisco dazzled with eleven strikeouts and limited Medina to just four base hits, sealing the win with a groundout that ended the game.
Leadoff man James Musco set the tone with a walk and a stolen base in the opening inning, while Ian Arnett’s single in the second brought Nick Sharp home with an RBI hit.
Sharp’s speed paid dividends again in the fifth when Logan Bach’s groundout brought him across the plate, extending the lead.
Head coach Mike Doucette’s decision to turn to Francisco for the final game paid off, as the pitcher induced the decisive groundout and celebrated with his teammates.
The victory marks a milestone for Chester Academy, ending a 2022 final loss and cementing the program’s rise in New York baseball circles.