SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WKTV) - New Hartford scored runs in five different innings on Tuesday, but a big three-inning stretch by Mexico proved to be the difference as the Tigers took the Section III, Class A baseball championship with a 12-7 win at Alliance Bank Stadium.

With fourth-seeded New Hartford leading 2-0 going into the bottom of the third inning, second-seeded Mexico exploded for five runs to go ahead, added two more in the fourth and erupted for another five-run rally in the fifth to make it 12-4.  The Spartans did not lie down, though, putting together a three-run rally in the top of the seventh, but their hole was simply too big to dig out of.

Mexico starting pitcher Jon Silva survived to go the distance for the win while Kody O'Conner led the offensive charge with two home runs--a two-run blast over the wall in the fourth and a three-run inside-the-park homer in the fifth.

The victory improves the Tigers to 19-7 and advances them to the state tournament beginning next week.  New Hartford, ranked No. 19 in the state this week, ends the season 20-7.

(Note: the right fielder in the highlights is Joe Desens, not Vin Servadio)