Good Luck Charm in Cortland

Four weekends ago (10/21), Oswego Club Baseball began their double header against Cornell’s club team at Gutchess Sports Complex in Cortland. With the availability to clinch the 1 seed of their division with two wins, this two game series was very important for Oswego. Cornell did not shy away from the competition. Their starting pitcher, Collin Mcchugh, started off red hot. He struck out five of Oswego’s first six batters through the first two innings. Meanwhile, on Cornell’s offensive side, their top four hitters of the order were lighting it up, hitting three doubles and a single.

Oswego ended up working themselves out of the first two innings after giving up five runs to start the game. It wasn’t until the fourth inning where Oswego finally put a small rally together to score two runs. Charlie Susi led off the inning with a base hit single, followed by two more base hits by Austin Tompkins and Drew Contos. However, Cornell quickly got two runs back the very next inning. Things were looking very bleak for Oswego going into the top of the fifth. Down 7-2, they couldn’t seem to group any hits and runs together and when they did, they’d give them right back on the defensive side. Then, they got a surprise visitor.

Marco Feliciano is one of the most talented players on Oswego’s club team. Arguably the best player in the league last spring, posting a batting average of .412, with 10 runs batted in over 8 games. However, Marco started the season off not quite as red hot as he was in the spring, posting a solid average of .285 (to .352) coming into the double header against Cornell. He has also remained one of the most solid and versatile defenders on the team, constantly making incredible plays and possessing no errors. Hailing from Rockland County New York, no one from his family has gotten the opportunity to come watch him play. That would stand until this game. Marco’s mom had planned a surprise trip up to Cortland to watch Marco play. However, due to traffic, she arrived about an hour late.

She also happened to arrive in top of the 5th inning. Oswego then proceeded to go on an offensive tear. They put up 6 runs to take an 8-7 lead, and the whole rally started with a leadoff double from Marco Feliciano. After his double, Marco ended up scoring via a single from Kyle Familo, and he got to see his mother cheering him on from behind the backstop. Being on the team, I had the opportunity to greet him coming back into the dugout, and he was full of emotion. His mother hadn’t gotten to see him play a game of baseball in four years. Marco ended the double header going 4-6 with two triples, a double, three stolen bases, and four RBI’s! The only way any of us could explain the comeback win and Marco’s insane performance, would be our good luck charm, Mrs. Feliciano.