By JOSH CUTLER

PLANET VALENTI Sports

(Pittsfield-Friday, June 10^th, 2011) — You knew it was too good to be true.

CONFAB AT PLATE — The managers and umps get together before the game. (Josh Cutler for PLANET VALENTI Sports)

While the New York Federals lived up to their .208 team batting average on Friday night, Mike Petroski made the team’s 7.63 ERA seem irrelevant, shutting down the Pittsfield Colonials 2-1 before 728 fans on fireworks night at Historic Wahconah Park.

Petroski Dominant Through 7 for NY

Despite the team’s bloated ERA, Petroski (1-0, 0.73 ERA) puzzled Colonials batters throughout the night, allowing only one run on three hits in his seven innings of work. Petroski’s only blemish occurred in the seventh inning, as newcomer Peter Fatse singled home Billy Mottram (who had just tripled to deep left center) to tie the game at 1. Petroski was able to earn a win when his Federals went ahead for good in the top of the eighth.

SUN DELAY — The western setting sun dazzles in a view toward centerfield. (Josh Cutler for PLANET VALENTI Sports)

Colonials’ manager Jamie Keefe was impressed with Petroski’s performance against his big boppers: “He kept us off balance and threw the ball really well. You can’t wait around and wait for things to happen. We swung the bats okay, but he kept us off balance. He and Miguel went neck and neck for seven innings.”

Meanwhile, Colonials’ starter Miguel Flores (0-2, 2.91 ERA) was equally as impressive, giving up two runs (one earned) and six hits over eight frames, walking three while striking out eight, but earning the tough-luck loss.

LIGHTS, ACTION! — The C's lost to the expansion Federals under the lights at Beloved Wahconah Park, 2-1, FRiday night (6/10/11) (Josh Cutler for PLANET VALENTI Sports)

Keefe was pleased with the effort from his starter, but he said the defense should have afforded him a better fate: “That’s all you can ask for (from him) is seven or eight, but we kicked it around and made a couple of mistakes and they capitalized and they win. That’s the bottom line”

Sidewinder Jon Shepard was able to shut down the Colonials in the ninth to earn his first save of the season. Though Scott Knazek laced a two-out single up the middle to put the tying run on base, Shepard was able to get Rafael Cabreja to bounce back to the mound to end the ballgame.

Errors Still Common Thread for C’s

WATCH THE SKIES — Fireworks burst into the Pittsfield sky following FRiday night's game at Beloved Wahconah Park (Josh Cutler, PLANET VALENTI Sports)

Keefe continues to be frustrated with his team’s defense, which despite being so good last season has them ranked last in the Can-Am league this year: “The defense is better, but it’s still not as good as it can get. You can’t give a team an opening to capitalize, and that’s what they did tonight”

Jackson and Jacob Fabry contributed two hits apiece for the Federals, while Davis went 1-3 and swiped two bases for the Colonials.

COLONIALS NOTES- After the game, Keefe said that starting shortstop Matt Nandin (oblique) continues to experience pain and remains day to day. Nandin was eligible to come off the disabled list yesterday … The Colonials’ rotation plans for the weekend will change due to Thursday’s rainout. Instead of T.J. Wink getting the ball as scheduled on Saturday, Pat Moran will pitch on regular rest, followed by Chad Paronto on Sunday and David Qualben on Monday in New Jersey. Tuesday’s starter is still to be determined.

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By CHAD COOPER

Special to PLANET VALENTI Sports

FEDERALS CLIP COLONIALS

(PITTSFIELD, June 10, 2011) — The Pittsfield Colonials saw the New York Federals plate an unearned run in the top of the eighth inning as the Colonials fell to the Federals, 2-1.

With the game tied 1-1 in the top of the eighth inning, New York took a lead as Wilson Matos reached on an error to lead off the inning. After he stole second, Matos moved to third on a throwing error. Brad Jackson followed with a single past the drawn-in infield to score Matos for a 2-1 Federals lead.

Pittsfield had tied the game in the previous half inning when Billy Mottram led off with a triple. Two batters later, Peter Fatse, playing in his first game with the Colonials, lined a single through the middle to score Mottram.

New York opened the scoring in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Stephen Pinto to score Sandy DeLeon.

Both starters dominated in the ballgame. Mike Petrowski (1-0) picked up the win for the Federals, going seven innings, allowing one run on three hits. Miguel Flores (0-2) took the tough-luck loss for Pittsfield, surrendering just one earned run on six hits, striking out eight over eight strong innings of work.

The middle game of the series comes up on Saturday night with Pat Moran (1-1, 4.26) on the mound for Pittsfield against Luis Pardo (0-0, 1.64) for the Federals Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. Coverage on 89.7 WTBR begins at 6:40 a.m. with the Colonials Pregame Show. For tickets, call 413-236-2961 or log on to www.pittsfieldcolonials.com.

THE BOX SCORE

New York Pittsfield
	2	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E New York 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 7 0 Pittsfield 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 4 3	1

New York
#	Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
17	Petrowski, M	7.0	3	1	1	3	5	0.73
14	Guinard, S	0.2	0	0	0	2	1	0.00
15	Lysenko, D	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	27.00
24	Shepard, J	1.0	1	0	0	0	2	5.14

Pittsfield
#	Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
32	Flores, M	8.0	6	2	1	3	8	2.91
23	Zenko, M	1.0	1	0	0	1	1	1.80