FAYETTEVILLE, NC-The York College baseball squad opened a critical three-game weekend trip to North Carolina was a tough 6-1 loss at Methodist University on Saturday night in Fayetteville, NC. The game was the regular season finale for the Monarchs as they conclude their campaign with a mark of 29-11 while the Spartans fall to 28-11.
    The Monarchs got on the board in the bottom of the first as they reached Spartan starter Tim Frisch (New Freedom, PA/Susquehannock) for a pair of runs in the frame. Mike Ellsworth had an RBI single in the inning while Scott Russell had a sacrifice fly to account for the two Methodist runs.
    The Spartans tallied their lone run in the third. Dennis Maxim (Port Jefferson Station, NY/St. Anthony’s) drew a one out walk and then advanced to third when Bryan Bednarczyk (Columbia, MD/River Hill) stroked a double to left center. Maxim scored on an Anthony Anzalone (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) RBI ground out to short.
    The Monarchs struck for four runs in the bottom of the third as Russell began the scoring in the inning with a two-run single to left. Dustin Proctor then doubled to left center, scoring Russell as the Monarch lead grew to 5-1. Proctor came around to score when Andy Redman singled to left center.
    That would be more than enough of a cushion for Monarch starter Chris Toth as he allowed just three hits over the remaining six innings of the game. The Spartans had Toth in trouble in the fifth as Evan Vonatski (Eastport, NY/Eastport-South Manor Central) was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. Maxim then singled to put runners at first and second. Vonatski got picked off second but Bednarczyk walked to again put runners at first and second, this time with one out. Anzalone reached on a fielder’s choice but Toth got out of the jam as he got Jeff Young (Wilmington, DE/Brandywine) to fly out to left, ending the inning.
    Freshman Jason Christenberry (Yoe, PA/Dallastown) came in to relieve Frisch in the bottom of the fourth and the 2007 Capital Athletic Conference Rookie-of-the-Year was brilliant. He kept the Spartans in the game as he scattered three hits in the final five innings. Christenberry struck out three and did not walk a batter in his relief stint. Unfortunately for Christenberry and the Spartans, the offense would be unable to muster enough quality at-bats to overcome the early deficit.
    Toth earned the win for Methodist as he tossed a complete game. He scattered four hits, allowing one run with one strikeout and four walks. He improves to 8-4 with the victory. Frisch took the loss as he allowed six runs on six hits with one walk, one strikeout, and three hit batters. He falls to 5-3 with the setback.
    Seth Kivett led the Monarchs as he was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Russell was 1-for-3 with three RBI while Redman was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
    The Spartans received a pair of hits from Maxim as he had a pair of singles while he also scored a run for YCP. Bednarczyk had York’s lone extra base hit with his third inning double. Freshman Mike Connolly (Selden, NY/Newfield) had York’s other hit.
    The Spartans conclude their 2007 regular season on Sunday as they travel to Rocky Mount, NC to face the North Carolina Wesleyan Battling Bishops in a regional twinbill. Game one is scheduled to start at noon on Sunday.