By HUNTER O. LYLE and SPENCER BATES
SYRACUSE — Having played over half the season already, fans of the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL) are set to turn their eyes towards the annual All-Star game.
Both the Olean Oilers (15-10-3) and Salamanca Lizards (11-15-3) will be represented this Monday (July 14) in Syracuse at Onondaga Community College, as the two local squads will send a pair of delegates each.
One of the weakest spots on the diamond for Olean this season has been their men on the mound, a spot that only boasts a handful of specialized hurlers. However, when healthy and available, their main canons have led the way, resulting in two All-Star selections.
Admittedly unsure of how much usage he would get on the mound, Olean has received a much-needed lift from Owen Smith — his efforts being rewarded with the first of two all-star nods for the Oilers. Regularly coming in as a closer, the righty sophomore from St. Bonaventure has started twice, seeing 24 innings on the bump. During his tenure, Smith had fanned 21 batters while giving up 16 hits and only two walks. On the other side of the plate, he has found contributions in 11 hits, six RBI and a .244 batting average that includes two home runs.
Sharing time with Smith as a closer, Luis Arreola has pitched just over 20 innings for Olean, starting twice. Arreola has given up just 16 hits and 18 walks — the latter number ranking fifth among his NYCBL colleagues — while striking out 26, good for 13th best in the league. With a 2.66 ERA in tow, he is set to join Smith in the trip to Syracuse.
As for the Lizards, one of their biggest strengths this season has been their pitching. With consistent production at the plate being relatively elusive for the Lizards, the arms on the mound have been what they have relied upon. Dylan Kinney has led that rotation. His 3.71 ERA and his average of 7.94 strikeouts per game are the fourth-best marks in their respective categories in the entire NYCBL. He also ranks fifth in the league in strikeouts with 30 on the season. It is because of those numbers that he earned himself a spot on the West All-Star Team.
And while pitching has been the key for success for the Lizards, their bats have had their moments, with certain batters carrying the torch. For instance Connor Smith — who was the only other Salamanca player to receive an all-star game invitation — has been the most effective bat on the team this season. He leads the Lizards’ offense with a .357 batting average, a mark good for 10th amongst the entire NYCBL. He is also currently tied for the fourth-most extra base hits in the league (12), third in on-base percentage (.513) and 10th in slugging percentage (.536).
