SALAMANCA, NY — With a doubleheader sweep of the Watertown Rapids, the Salamanca Lizards have officially taken themselves out of last place in the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL) West Division.
The Lizards had been at the bottom of the West’s table for a significant portion of the season. And while they may have been knocked out of postseason contention already, as head coach Jerico Weitzel previously noted, that doesn’t mean every remaining game isn’t another chance at getting better.
Salamanca won the first game of the day 8-7 via a walkoff in the bottom of the seventh, made possible due to a five-run sixth inning that brought the hosts back after falling behind 6-2. In that sixth inning, the Lizards loaded the bases with just one out behind a series of walks issued by Watertown’s pitchers.
Two more walks and a wild pitch brought Chase Haglund (0-for-3, run, walk), Connor Smith (1-for-3, 2 runs, walk) and Matt Smith (0-for-3, run, walk) across to score. Things only continued to get better for Salamanca as Timothy Johnson singled to left field, scoring both Gabe Roth (1-for-1, 2 runs, RBI, 2 walks) and Hunter White (1-for-3, run, 2 RBI, walk).
The latter of the two runners driven in by Johnson wound up coming in clutch in the very next inning, as White scored Connor Smith from second with a base hit to walk it off.
In the second game of the day, it was Salamanca that got the offense going early instead of Watertown.
Scoring twice in the first, once in the second and three times in the third, the Lizards surged ahead to a 6-3 lead. And once again it was the trio of Timothy Johnson (2-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Connor Smith (2-for-4, run, RBI) and Gabe Roth (1-for-3, run, RBI, walk) that got the hosts going.
But unlike Salamanca in the first game, Watertown was unable to stage any significant late-game heroics, much in part thanks to the full-game outing from Bryce Jackson (5 SO, 1 BB). The Lizards were able to close out the affair 7-5, sending the Rapids home empty-handed.
GAME ONE (SEVEN INNINGS)
AT SALAMANCA
Watertown 310 002 1XX R:7 H:11 E:0
Salamanca 002 005 1XX R:8 H:5 E:2
Wat: Graf (4 SO, 1 BB), Foulis (2 SO, 6 BB), Hess (0 SO, 0 BB) and Simeone
Sal: Martos (3 SO, 2 BB), Roth (1 SO, 0 BB) and Lasko
GAME TWO (SEVEN INNINGS)
AT SALAMANCA
Watertown 012 100 1XX R:5 H:8 E:0
Salamanca 213 001 XXX R:7 H:8 E:0
Wat: Wescott (6 SO, 4 BB), Jordan (0 SO, 1 BB) and Simeone
Sal: Jackson (5 SO, 1 BB) and Cardona
OLEAN WOMEN’S SOFTBALL LEAGUE (OWSL)
Union Whiskey 10, Parkwood 3
OLEAN, NY — Despite only recording four more hits than their opposition, Union Whiskey made the most of their connections in their 10-3 victory over Parkwood in the Olean Women’s Softball League Playoffs.
Jenna Hadley led Union Whiskey in the win, recording three hits and two RBI. Supporting her was Grace Wood (three hits), Aliyah Cole (two hits) and Emily Horth (two RBI, double) who each scored two runs.
Makenna Pancio, Sara Levia, Kelly Rzepka and Brigitte Sarber had two hits apiece in the loss with Pancio recording a home run with one of her connections.
Pink Ladies 15, Hangry Pitches 7
OLEAN, NY — Grace Walker led the Pink Ladies in their 15-7 win over Hangry Pitches, going a perfect 4-for-4 with a home run, double and two RBI.
Ann Baxter (2-for-4), Courtney Martin (triple, 2 RBI), Sara Wesley (2-for-4, triple, 2 RBI), Renee Williams (2-for-4, RBI) and Chrissy Martin (double) all contributed heavily in the victory as well.
Brita Rajski (4-for-5), Jen Blum (4-for-5, RBI), Megan Hollenbeck (4-for-4), Hope Hollenbeck (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Liz Rix (3-for-4, HR, RBI) each had solid days at the plate in the loss for Hangry Pitches.
Angee’s 24, Murdock’s 1
OLEAN, NY — Behind Sophia Aiello, who hit for the cycle while going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, Angee’s erupted for a big win over Murdock’s.
Sophia Fratercangelo (triple) and Hanah Lathrop (HR) each went 3-for-4 in the win. Betty McNabb, Kristiana O’Connell (HR) and Kendra Colegrove (triple) tallied perfect 3-for-3 stat lines while Leslie Nasuta and Ashley Peterson went 2-for-3 for Angee’s as well.
Gabrielle Dutton and Shelby Raffety (RBI) both recorded a hit for Murdock’s.
Mickey’s 14, Misfits 2
OLEAN, NY — Mickey’s scored a big win over Misfits in the OWSL playoffs, powered by Alexa Schoonover (3-for-4, two runs) and Karissa Neal (3-for-4, two runs).
Kate Maedl (2-for-3, two runs), Beth Mills (2-for-3, run), Mary Klotz (3-for-3, run), Jamilyn Giberson (2-for-3, double) and Eva West (2-for-4, run, HR) all contributed significantly to the victory.
Bamboo Strategy 13, Shamrocks 2
OLEAN, NY — Ashley Colley’s perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate highlighted Bamboo Strategy’s win over Shamrocks in the OWSL playoffs.
Amber Mohr (3-for-4), Andrea Darrow (2-for-3), Casey Cummings (2-for-3) and Shannon Detweiler (2-for-4, triple) each supported her in the win.
For Shamrocks, Lizzie Chapman (2-for-2) and Micheyla Williams (3-for-3) each had blemish-free offensive days.
Shamrocks 8, Murdock’s 6
OLEAN, NY — Shamrocks were able to survive a late push from Murdock’s to secure a win in the OWSL playoffs.
Natasha Beil led the victors with a 3-for-3 display that came with a double and two RBI. Micheyla WIlliams (3-for-3), Meg Sizemore (3-for-4, RBI) and Alyssa Hobler (2-for-3, RBI) each assisted in the win.
Erin Hitchcock (3-for-3, two RBI), Camille Emborsky (2-for-3), Alyson Brickey (2-for-3), Amie Slater (2-for-3, RBI) and Jess Baca (3-for-3) had solid days at the plate for Murdock’s
