Bethlehem, Niskayuna suspended in fifth inning

TROY — Friday night’s high school baseball game between Bethlehem and Niskayuna lost to Mother Nature, being suspended in the fifth inning, a half inning short of an official game in accordance with Section II rules. 

Bethlehem got the offense going early on a leadoff home run from Nick Mosier in the first inning, but Niskayuna back to take a 4-1 lead, scoring three in the third, two of them coming on a single from James Murphy. They extended it to a three-run lead in the fifth inning on a passed ball just before the rain came. 

Both starting pitchers were still in the game when the game was suspended, Bethlehem’s Arlo Marynczak and Niskayuna’s Cole Hedden, who had allowed just three hits in four innings of work. 

The storm was looming all night and finally hit in the middle of the fifth inning, coming down in sheets and leading the umpires and team officials to call the game after just under 15 minutes of a delay. 

The game was not allowed to be declared in official due to Section II rules, which state if the visiting team is winning, five full innings need to be played. Niskayuna is the visiting team. 

The two teams do not face each other the rest of this season, so it is unclear when the game will be resumed. When it does resume, Niskayuna will be leading 4-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth.