By HUNTER O. LYLE
lyleoleanstar@gmail.com
CHEEKTOWAGA, NY – Fighting an uphill battle early, the Olean baseball team witnessed their season come to an end by the hands of Maryvale as late mistakes piled up, giving way to a 8-0 quarterfinals loss.
Ending their schedule at 8-8, the Huskies claimed the fifth seed in the Section VI Class A2 postseason, then beating Pioneer 13-0 to return to the quarterfinals for a second year in a row. However, they soon found themselves in a David-vs-Goliath battle as they were facing off against the reigning Sectional champions.
“We knew Maryvale was going to have good pitching and the top of their line up especially could hit the ball,” said Olean head coach Les DeGolier.
The Flyers would prove their worth early, dispatching Olean in their first three batters with a pair of strikeouts and a fly out. Despite logging two outs early themselves, Maryvale managed to put a man on first and third from a walk and single. Then gambling on a pickle-play between first and second, Maryvale scored the first run of the day by stealing home. Still having a man on second, the Flyers would add to their lead immediately after with an RBI double.
Looking up from an early hole, Olean’s next at bat seemed to muster some momentum. Landon Johnson reached first on a walk before making it to third after a sac-bunt and Alex Jones’ grounder that broke through the infield. However, Maryvale would leave the runners stranded as they turned a double play with a pop fly and tag out at home.
Suffy Hoffman takes a swing at the plate during Olean’s loss to Maryvale. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle
Although their offense was yet to materialize, the Huskies’ defense kept them in the game. Coming away with two double plays in each of the next three innings, Olean held the Flyers scoreless as they searched for contact at the plate.
“The (defensive) focus was greater. It’s too bad it wasn’t there in the bottom half of the first,” said DeGolier. “We turned a couple double plays and had some big energy plays that you could see really helped us to lock in and helped keep it close for a long time.”
Starting pitcher Noah Cartmill throws out a Flyer during the Huskies’ shutout loss to Maryvale on Saturday. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle
In the top of the fifth, the Huskies would once again put a man just 90 feet from home. Jones kicked off the inning with a hard hit single before he reached third on two wild pitches. However, Olean couldn’t find the final hit to bring him in, instead suffering a third out via play at first. From there, the cracks began to show.
“Ultimately, we need to hit the ball a little bit more. We knew it was going to be a tough day but we had a couple chances there where we stranded runners at third base,” said DeGolier. “We kind of knew at the time that if we didn’t cash those in it would cost us.”
After going three-and-out in the bottom of the fourth, the Flyers returned to the plate in the fifth looking to put the final nail in Olean’s coffin. Hitting a double, a bunt single and reaching off of a walk, Maryvale loaded the bases with their first three batters. Switching their man on the mound, the Huskies then suffered multiple self-inflicted wounds. Another walk scored the Flyers’ third run before back-to-back passed balls let in two more. With the bases still loaded, another walk – Olean’s eighth – brought in another score before Maryvale cashed in on one more surge with a two-run RBI single.
In just one frame, Olean’s deficit had grown beyond their reach and as they were still unable to put the ball in play in the batters’ box, suffering six outs in the next seven attempts, the Huskies faced their elimination.
“We’ve had our ups and downs but what season doesn’t? I really thought that the team came together late. In the last couple weeks of the season the team became really tight and that was good to see,” said DeGolier. “I thought some young guys stepped up and have grown. There’s a couple young guys that have really grown in the latter half of the season and it gives me a lot of optimism as we look forward to growing the program next year.”
AT CHEEKTOWAGA
R H E
Olean 000 000 0 0 2 1
Maryvale 200 060 X 8 6 0
OL: Cartmill (1 SO, 3 BB), Miles (5) (0 SO, 5 BB), Teachman (5) (2 SO, 0 BB) and D. Myers
MV: Kuciel (8 SO, 2 BB), Moritz (7) (1 SO, 1 BB) and Hassett
