By HUNTER O. LYLE
PORT ALLEGANY, PA – Seeing the Crusaders for the second time in three days, the Port Allegany baseball team was unable to break through their near-perfect pitching, ultimately being swept in the season series with a 4-0 loss to Elk County Catholic.
Ahead of their second-to-last home game of the season, the Gators took time to honor and recognize their two seniors, Aiden Bliss and Nick Wilfong. Both being four-year contributors for the Orange and Black, their impact and effort has been crucial to a program continuously chasing District titles.
“They’re going to be missed, big time. I’ve coached these guys since they were eight and they’ve been great athletes, great leaders, by example and they’re very knowledgeable,” said Port Allegany head coach Rick Veilleux. “It’s sad that I’m going to lose them but it’s also nice to see them move on and make something of themselves.”
In the previous meeting with ECC, a 8-5 loss on Tuesday, Port found themselves down early, fighting back from an early four-run deficit that amassed in the first frame. In Thursday’s sequel, the Gators’ homework paid off early. With Wilfong on the mound, nearing his 200th career K, and the defense behind him churning out cleanly fielded plays, Port continuously left the Crusaders stranded on the baseline.
However, on the other side of the plate, their own offense struggled to find a spark, let alone contact. Facing a loaded arsenal of speed, curves and breaking balls, the Gators’ bats stayed cold against ECC’s Matthew Gilmore. Through the first four frames, Port found just two hits – a single from Kellen Veilleux in the first and a single from Wilfong in the fourth – but failed to get past the fifth man in the order during each trip to the batters’ box.
With the game deadlocked at zero heading into the fifth, Port’s defense finally buckled.
The Crusaders broke open the inning with a lead-off single from Gideon Cronk and a hit batter, with the pair swiftly being moved into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt from Frankie Smith immediately after. Still needing two outs to go, Port saw the first run off the day came via self-inflicted wound, as an error in the infield allowed ECC to break ground on the scoreboard. One batter later, a second error, this time a blown catch in the outfield, gave up another.
Facing the tides turning against them, the Gators tallied a quick second out, but couldn’t keep ECC from applying pressure inside the diamond. Maintaining men on the corners, the next two Crusaders, Paxton Herzing and Jack Breindel, both notched RBI-singles, growing their lead to 4-0.
Suddenly forced onto their heels, Port’s do-or-die comeback effort fell short. Still unable to find a way past Gilmore, the Gators were put out in short order, being dispatched in just eleven batters through the final three frames.
“The difference between the two games was that in the last game we hit, we out-hit (ECC) 12-5. Tonight we had three hits. That’s where we struggled tonight,” said Rick Veilleux. “(Gilmore) had a really nice curveball, he set it up, worked the plate. It seemed like he got stronger as the game went on.”
Ending the afternoon just one strikeout shy of 200, Wilfong finished with six Ks on the mound, also recording one hit in two trips to the batters’ box. Kellen Veilleux and Gavin Wright both ended 1-for-3.
With the two toughest contests of the season behind them, the Gators now look to learn, adapt and regain focus. Entering the final stretch of the season, Port has just three games between them and the postseason, a window they will use to focus on perfecting the little things.
“Our last five losses have come to Elk County Catholic and DuBois Central Catholic. We want to get up to their level and that’s what we’re working to do,” said Rick Veilleux. “We just need to get down to fundamental baseball and get down to business.”
AT PORT ALLEGANY
Elk County Catholic 000 040 0 R:4 H:5 E:0
Port Allegany 000 000 0 R:0 H:3 E:4
Elk County Catholic: Gilmore (9 SO, 4 BB) and Herzing
Port Allegany: Wilfong (6 SO, 1 BB) and Boyd
