By SPENCER BATES
OLEAN — After an extended absence from home, the Olean Oilers played just about as textbook of a game as one can ask for en route to their first home win in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL).
The Oilers put on a show in front of a good crowd at Brander Stadium, defeating the Geneva Redwings 8-2 on the back of a composed and surgical outing from the pitching staff and an aggressive mindset at the plate.
Throughout its first five games in the PGCBL, Olean has had its ups and downs. This initial feeling-out and adaptation period has seen the Oilers get mercy-ruled twice and hand out one mercy rule of their own. Against Geneva, Olean looked as though it had ironed out every visible wrinkle.
It all started on the mound.
Jake Manendo got the nod to start for the Oilers. His last outing was in the team’s only other home game this season, on May 30, and in that appearance he went 3.0 innings, gave up nine runs on nine hits and struck out just one batter. Manendo’s second time toeing the slab this summer went a bit differently as he went 6.0 innings, allowed just one run on four hits and struck out eight. He also left two Geneva baserunners stranded in three of the first four frames, showing a high level of composure.
“It’s funny because when I talked to him after I took him out in the first game (he pitched), he had just arrived,” Oilers head coach Mike Threehouse said. “It was the first time he’d met the team. … Tonight he pitched exactly what we think he can. I mean, he pitched a great game. That’s why we put him out there. We know we’re gonna get that kind of start from him.”
Behind Manendo, and the rest of the Oilers pitching staff for that matter, the defense was exemplary. A number of critical double plays stifled the Redwings bats. Routine errors were a problem in the first few games of the season for Olean, but as his players have gotten used to each other and the playing surfaces, Threehouse has seen significant improvement.
“It’s just about getting comfortable,” Threehouse said. “We got to learn the fields. We’ve never played on a lot of these fields. A lot of our guys have never played on this field. So once you get the feel of what you’re playing on, then you can start making decisions about how to go after a ball. Our guys are starting to learn how this field plays and it showed tonight, we played very well behind the pitchers.”
Offensively, the Oilers were consistent, pulling ahead little-by-little after scoring a run in each inning from the second through the fifth. They slammed the door shut on the Redwings with a four-run burst in seventh.
“We were aggressive, we were swinging at pitches early in the count,” Threehouse said. “That’s something I’ve been talking about, just making sure we’re ready to swing. When you’re ready to swing at this level, you’re gonna get pitches to hit. You’re faced with some decent pitchers, and they’re pounding the zone, so you can’t be up there taking pitches. Today, we swung the bat pretty well because we were ready to hit right from the start.”
Headlining the Oilers’ offense was Olean native Thomas Bates, who finished 2-for-3 with two runs.
Bates, a franchise veteran, has had a superb start to the campaign amassing a combined stat line of 4-for-11 (.363 avg.), three runs and three RBI over the first six games.
Olean’s Thomas Bates (20) connects on a pitch against Geneva. Bates went 2-for-3 with two runs for the Oilers in their win over the Redwings. (Spencer Bates)
But in the eyes of Threehouse, it is far more than what Bates provides at the plate that has made him an asset.
“Thomas is one of those guys, he’s confident,” Threehouse said. “He knows what he’s doing. He’s played baseball a long time now and when he comes in here we look to him to do everything. He goes from lining the field to starting second base and turning a great double play. That’s the kind of leadership we look for and the type of character we look for. Thomas, obviously, shows that every single day, so we’re excited he’s still with us.”
Also making an impact offensively for the hosts was Jack Painter (2-for-3, 3 RBI), Jaxon Diamond (2-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI) and Aiden Cowburn (1-for-4, 2 RBI).
The first home win in the PGCBL era of the franchise was special for Threehouse, who applauded and thanked the crowd and took photos on the field with fans after the game.
“It’s just fantastic,” Threehouse said. “ You get a nice crowd today. It was a beautiful night. The guys came out, they played their hearts out, we had great pitching, great defense, and when you look at it, you’re just excited to be able to play in this league and play against that talent. … It was a fantastic night.”
Olean will take to the field next on June 6 at 6:30 p.m. when it hosts the Niagara Ironbacks.
AT OLEAN
Geneva 010 000 001 R:2 H:4 E:1
Olean 011 110 40X R:8 H:10 E:2
GEN: Deitz (2 SO, 2 BB), Breault (0 SO, 3 BB), Lipton (3 SO, 1 BB) and Orrego
OL: Manendo (8 SO, 3 BB), Holm (3 SO, 1 BB), Cowburn (3 SO, 1 BB) and Smith
