It certainly didn't help the visiting Warriors to know that Ichabod Crane was riding a 20 game winning streak. Or did it?

The Road Warriors jumped out early in this one, notching two runs in the top half of the first on RBI singles by Brendan Heitz and Matt Engler, scoring Mike Sullivan and Dan Russo to quiet the big Riders crowd as the Warriors grabbed a two- zip lead heading to the bottom of the first.

Two quick runs off of Riders ace Josh Ingham, who entered today's game with a 6-0 record and a Division I scholarship at Southern Connecticut State waiting for him in the fall did a lot to get Whitesboro in gear.

The home half of the first saw MJ Hajec work is majic once again, setting down the Riders 1-2-3 on fly ball outs.

The Warriors went quietly in the top half of the second and the riders couldn't muster a run in the bottom, despite two sharp singles. Ryan Watson's back pedaling catch behind first base ended Crane's threat, however.

Watson hammered a two out triple in the top of third but the Warriors were unable to get him across. Leaving Watson stranded gave the Riders a boost of momentum and they took full advantage at the plate in the bottom of inning number three.

Hajec started off the inning with a huge called third strike against Crane leadoff man David Winch to start things off well for the visitors.

After that, Hajec gave up consecutive walks to Nick Albery and Ingham. Crane's other Division I scholarship recipient, big switch hitting Derrick Horn, then stepped in and belted a waist high fastball into center field for a double, tying the game at 2-2.

With one out, Alex Mastrianni drew a walk and a passed ball to Seth Williams moved Horn to third to put runners at the corners. Mastrianni stole second and Williams chopped a high grounder over third base scoring Mastrianni and Horn to give Ichabod Crane a 4-2 lead.

Hajec dug in deep and struck out Tyler Davis to end the inning, but not before the senior hurled 52 pitches in the inning.

A passed ball to Brendan Heitz moved the runners to second and third. Heitz then text booked a ground ball to the right side to score Russo, pulling Whitesboro to within 4-3.

After a walk to Watson to put Warriors at the corners, Matt Engler ground to second and Sullivan raced home, diving across the plate for what everyone in the ballpark thought was the tying run.

Everyone except the home plate umpire, that is, as Sullivan was called out, keeping things at 4-3 in favor of Crane, which is the way we'd go to the home half of the fifth.

Hajec returned to the steady, commanding form he's become known for in the bottom of the fifth, facing just four Crane hitters and allowing just one harmless single.

As has been the case in all but one post season game this season, the Warriors were down by at least a run and running out of outs heading to the top of the sixth.

Dylan Gorski started things off with a single, followed by a blast to right field by Dave Abdoo to put runners at second and third with nobody out.

Adam Pexton's infield hit loaded the bases and after a ground out by Russo, Mike Sullivan was hit by a 3-2 pitch by reliever David Winch, scoring Gorski and tying the game at 4-4.

Brendan Heitz's single to left field scored Pexton and the Warriors reclaimed the lead at 5-4 with just one away.

That's when Ryan Watson came through for his team again with a bomb to left center field, clearing the bases and putting the Warriors up 8-4. A freakish interference call on Matt Engler, running to first base, by the homeplate umpire ended the inning at 8-4.

Engler took over for Hajec on the hill in the bottom of the sixth, as the rejuvinated Warriors hit the field behind him.

For the second time in as many games, an exhausted Hajec paced the Warriors dugout as the trusty Engler looked to shut the door.

Engler's third pitch hit Tyler Davis to put the leadoff Rider on. That's when Engler once again went deep within and said to himself what he always does, "It's just me throwing it and the catcher catching it, pretty simple," as he told MHTS afterward.

The big lefty simply fanned the next two Crane hitters and then got the dangerous Josh Ingham to fly out to right field to end the threat and put the Warriors one step closer to the Final 4.

After the Warriors went quietly in the top of the seventh to third reliever Seth Williams, Engler and the defense took the field to get three more outs.

The pesky riders did manage to load the bases with two outs in the 7th, but Engler's second strikout of the inning, at the expense of pinch hitter Chip White, ended the game, propelling the Warriors to their first Final 4 appearance ever!

After the game, a relatively relaxed Engler told MHTS that despite a shaky start, he knew he'd get it together, "I just relaxed and went to work, I knew it was as simple as pitch and catch and that's what we did." Engler also likes his club's chances this coming Saturday at Union Endicott, adding, "We're not done, we're going down there to win it."

As for Ryan Watson, who belted the double to blow the game open, it was all about doing his part. "With those three guys on base, when I got up there, I knew if I could just put it in play they would do the rest. I got a really good piece of it and that did it, all three came around."

Whitesboro (17-7) will now take to the road again Saturday to face Pittsford-Suthlerand at 1 p.m. at Union Endicott High School. The winner plays for the State Championship at 4 pm.

Dave Abdoo had three hits for the Warriors, while Watson added a double, triple and 3 RBI's. MJ Hajec got the win to improve to 7-1 on the season, while Engler earned the save.

Whitesboro 8 Ichabod Crane 4

Box Score

                                 1  2  3    4  5  6  7       R   H   E

Whitesboro                  2  0   0   0  1  5   0     - 8 10 1
Ichabod Crane              0  0  4    0  0  0   0     - 4  8  3