LAKE HUNTINGTON – The Sullivan West Bulldogs (7-3, 4-1) fell to the Chester Hambletonians (10-2, 3-0), 9-2, on Monday as Chester swept the season series. 

The game started with a bit of a pitcher’s duel for the first few innings as the Bulldogs were set down in order by Chester pitcher Robert Berkeley the first two frames. Sullivan West starter Jacob Hubert worked a fairly clean first three innings, allowing just four base runners and no runs. 

The bottom of the Bulldogs lineup got things going in the third with eight-hole hitter Allyn Walter working a walk with one out. Then after nine-hole hitter Hayden Nicosia struck out looking, leadoff hitter Austin Nystrom ripped a single to set up shortstop Evan Ebert with an RBI opportunity. 

Walter and Nystrom pulled off the double steal of second and third, and Ebert capitalized by ripping a single to right field to drive in two runs. 

Things got dicey in the fourth for Jacob Hubert and the Bulldogs as Chester wound up batting around and scoring four runs, started by a walk drawn by five-hole hitter Brandon Jenkins. Multiple passed balls and stolen bases led to the runs being scored. 

It was more of the same in the fifth, as the Hambletonians scored four more runs in that frame before tacking on another in the sixth. The Sullivan West offense was unable to get much going after scoring the two runs in the third, as Berkeley shut them down the rest of the way. 

Alec Hubert led the Bulldogs with two hits in the game, while Nystrom, Ebert, Adam Ernst and John Bernas each recorded a hit apiece and Ebert recorded the two RBI. Walter also reached base twice with a walk and hit by pitch. 

“We could’ve had a little more crisp play,” said Sullivan West coach Ty Ebert. “We had some runners on and only ended up scoring two. We weren’t making contact, just needed to swing more often.”

Sullivan West will now host their baseball and softball tournament at their fields in Lake Huntington tomorrow, Saturday, May 4. 

The baseball team will open the day with a game against Monticello with Deposit-Hancock and Port Jervis also participating in the baseball portion of the tournament. 

Sullivan West, Tri-Valley, Monticello and Port Jervis will be the participating teams for the softball tournament. 

Coach Ebert noted, “We’re gonna work on some things that we need to work on and hopefully get a little bit better every day.”