By Rob Potter
CALLICOON — For the second time in three years, the Livingston Manor Wildcats are playing in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Class D Baseball Tournament.
At 4 p.m. today, Manor (10-8) will meet Section XI champion Smithtown Christian Academy (9-10) in a Class D quarterfinal game at Mataraza Field in Pine Bush.
The winner will play in a Class D state semifinal game this Saturday, June 11 at Johnson City High School.
The Wildcats earned their trip to the state tourney by winning the Section IX Class D championship on Thursday afternoon at Loren Campbell Baseball Field at SUNY New Paltz.
Manor, the No. 1 seed in the Class D tournament, rallied from deficits of 2-1, 4-2 and 5-4 to defeat the No. 2 seeded John A. Coleman Catholic High School Statesmen by the final score of 8-5.
The biggest hit of the game was by junior center fielder Chad Rosario, who blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Wildcats the lead for good at 7-5.
Manor tacked on an insurance run for the three-run victory.
Senior right-hander Brandon Smith pitched 1 and 2/3 innings of relief to earn the win for the Wildcats.
In 2009, Manor won the Section IX Class D title by defeating S.S. Seward, 6-3, at SUNY New Paltz. That victory propelled the Wildcats into the state Class D semifinals.
But the Wildcats saw their season end in that semifinal game as they were defeated 11-1 by Section II champion Schenectady Christian School at Pete Sylvester Field at Union-Endicott High School.