By SPENCER BATES
HORSEHEADS — Over the course of their three-game losing skid, the Salamanca Lizards had failed to score more than three runs in each defeat.
In fact, over that stretch of games, they were beaten by a combined 19-8 scoreline.
In their game against the Horseheads Hitmen, they did surpass that three-run mark, granted not by all that much, scoring just four runs. But thanks to a dazzling complete game from starting pitcher Jase Burdon (6 SO, 1 BB), it was enough for a 4-2 victory.
“(Jase) threw the ball really well, he did a really good job of mixing his pitches and wasn’t predictable,” Lizards coach Jerico Weitzel said. “Matt (Cardona) called a good game, caught well behind the plate. It was just a really gutty performance. Kind of like everyone else right now, we’re a little short on arms at this part of the season, and to get a start like that in that situation was huge for us.”
The Hitmen entered the game on a losing streak of their own, in fact, the longest active losing streak in the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL). So for the Lizards, this was a perfect opportunity to steal some points as the home stretch of the season comes into full view.
Thankfully for the visitors, their star man from the night before got them going early.
In Salamanca’s 6-3 loss to the Olean Oilers on July 10, the lineup struggled mightily to put bat to ball. It connected for seven hits but five of which were recorded by a combined two players. One of whom was Hunter White who went a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI and two walks.
His hit streak continued as he gave the Lizards an early 2-0 lead in the top of the very first inning. A great sign for the Lizards, who have been in search of consistent offensive production.
“(That was a) big hit for us in the first inning,” Weitzel said. “Lewis, the pitcher from Horseheads, is one of the better pitchers in the league, and for us to be able to jump out to a two-run lead in the first inning when Hunter gets that base hit, that was huge. It set the tone and gave us a little breathing room where we can feel comfortable.”
The icing on the cake was that, luckily, White was not the only batter that found some success. Lucas Marsh (2-for-4, run) and Parker Drees (2-for-4), two players who have seen increased usage as of late, took their opportunities in the starting lineup in stride.
“Lucas has really good tools, he’s a good player. He redshirted this year at school, so that’s a whole season of no at-bats. … But I think he’s kind of found his groove,” Weitzel said. “We saw it, even before he started getting hits, that he was starting to have better at-bats, he was seeing the ball better. So, that’s been a nice, steady presence for us in the middle of the lineup. And Parker was really good for us today. He’s been working really hard, made a few mechanical adjustments and is trying to improve his swing. I think it’s a confidence thing (for him). He didn’t get a ton of at-bats at school. … I thought he did a really good job of getting on base for us today and turning the lineup over.”
Burdon faced some adversity in the third inning, giving up two game-tying runs through the first three batters he faced. But the struggles proved to be just a bump in the road as he got out of the inning and kept Horseheads to just two hits over the remaining six frames.
And fortunately for Burdon, his offense would immediately restore the two-run cushion he had with what ended up being the game-winning runs in the top of the fourth. Frank Kula (1-for-5) was credited with an RBI after he reached first with the bases loaded thanks to an error from Horseheads’ first baseman. Marsh scored as a result of the error and Nate Wolf (0-for-2, run, 2 walks) followed him across the plate soon after as the result of a sacrifice fly from Harley Hoag (1-for-3, run, RBI).
Salamanca’s bats fell quiet the rest of the game, but they did what they needed to as Burdon slammed the door shut on the Hitmen.
The Lizards are now just five points back — the equivalent to two wins and a tie — of the third place Oilers in a packed West Division. But with just nine games left in the regular season, the time to make a move is now. Weitzel noted after his team’s loss to the Olean that this is the time of year when fatigue can start to set in as teams are playing just about every day. But, the message he is relaying in hopes of keeping spirits up is one of hope.
“The message just kind of remains that, sure, it might be a little hot out, it might be a little tiring, it’s a long summer, but you’re playing baseball every day. It’s not that bad,” Weitzel laughed. “There’s still games and there’s still time to make something happen. But we gotta go. It can’t be we’ll get them next time or we’ll get them tomorrow. At some point, if we want to make (a push), we got to go. I thought today was a good start.”
The Lizards have a tough task ahead of them as they will face the NYCBL-leading Genesee Rapids at home on July 12 at 6:30 p.m. for their next game.
AT HORSEHEADS
Salamanca 200 200 000 R:4 H:9 E:1
Horseheads 002 000 000 R:2 H:6 E:2
Sala: Burdon (6 SO, 1 BB) and Cardona, Lasko
Hors: Lewis (3 SO, 4 BB), Deloach (1 SO, 0 BB) and Meisner, Vogel
