By CARSON HAYEK
oleanstarsports@gmail.com
ALLEGANY — Ellicottville varsity baseball used a seven-run sixth inning to defeat the Allegany-Limestone Gators, 10-3, Monday night.
In the top of the first, Parker John hit an RBI single, which earned the visitors an early, 1-0 advantage.
An inning later, the Gators loaded the bases, and freshman second baseman Bronx Foster was hit by a pitch, bringing in a run and tying the game at 1-1.
Just a frame later, John hit his second RBI single, and Sawyer Miller scored on a wild pitch, as Ellicottville regained a 3-1 lead.
Following two scoreless innings, Ellicottville’s offense erupted in the sixth inning.
Two straight hit by pitches brought two Ellicottville runners across the plate. An error from the Gators catcher on a throw to first base brought in another two runners for the visitors, increasing their lead, 7-1.
AJ Myers kept the Ellicottville run going with a two-RBI double. Myers then capped off the inning by scoring from third after an Allegany Limestone passed ball.
In the bottom of the sixth, Allegany-Limestone responded with two runs of their own. Gators head coach Eric Hemphill said he was proud of his team’s fight.
“We have been stressing [battling] all year long,” Hemphill said. “We are very young. To see them keep fighting is what we will be made up of. The schedule gets a whole lot tougher, and they will have to keep fighting in the next four weeks.”
Hemphill continued by saying the team’s inability to capitalize on offensive opportunities was the biggest difference in the game.
“We just didn’t cash in with runners on,” Hemphill said. “We need to take advantage of those situations. Early in the year, we didn’t get runners on. Now we are starting to get the bats going, getting guys in position, but we have to do the little things to get those runs in.”
Ellicottville advances to 3-0, while Allegany-Limestone drops to 3-3.
Ellicottville hosts Portville next, while Allegany-Limestone visits Fredonia. First pitch for both games is set for 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15.
