By SPENCER BATES
OLEAN — It is officially crunch time for the Olean Oilers.
Ahead of their July 23 fixture against the Jamestown Tarp Skunks, the Oilers sat 0.5 games back of fourth place in the western conference of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL).
A solid 8-2 win over Jamestown, and other helpful results around the conference, saw Olean’s chances at a playoff berth get that much better.
The Oilers didn’t waste any time in taking control of their fate on the night, lurching out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning and compiling a 7-0 lead through the first four.
Carrying the baton offensively for the hosts was Cooper Tarlie, who went 2-for-2 with a run and two RBI — he also reached base after being hit twice. Thomas Bates was also a major factor, getting on the base five times, going 2-for-2 with two runs and three walks.
Aidan Willard (2-for-4, run), Jack Painter (1-for-3, 2 RBI) and Conner Vercollone (1-for-4, HR) all made important contributions as well.
“We’ve been swinging pretty well, I’m happy with that,” Oilers head coach Mike Threehouse said of his team’s offense. “They’re being aggressive. … But the bottom line is they’re gelling. I mean, they’re getting up there and they’re taking their hacks. Even a lot of check-swings tells me they’re ready to hit. And that’s the biggest part for hitters. If they’re ready to hit, we’re good. Right now, we’re in a good spot.”
Olean’s Brady Smith (31) connects on a pitch against Jamestown. Smith recorded an RBI for the Oilers in their win over the Tarp Skunks. (Spencer Bates)
And for as hot as Olean’s bats were, so too was the arm of starting pitcher Jake Manendo. In his 5.2 frames, he racked up seven strikeouts and walked just one. He gave up nine hits, but only saw two runs come across in his time on the bump, a ratio that speaks to the confidence Threehouse knows is in him.
“That was fantastic. I mean, I went to him in the fifth inning and said, ‘How do you feel?’ and he said, ‘I’m good for 100 pitches, coach,’” Threehouse said. “The way he was going about it today, he was just locked in. It’s great to watch a good pitcher be locked in, and when that happens, it’s a fun baseball game.”
The Tarp Skunks’ two runs came in the sixth inning, but Oilers’ relief pitcher Daniel Lewis refused to allow any momentum to swing. Striking out three and conceding only one hit over the final 3.1 innings, he slammed the door shut, securing the win.
The two other teams jostling with Olean for that critical fourth-place spot in the western conference standings are the Niagara Ironbacks and the Elmira Pioneers. The Oilers picked up a big win over Niagara on the road on July 22 — and with the six-win Newark Pilots defeating Elmira and Niagara having to settle for a tie against the Geneva Red Wings, Olean now sits tied for the final playoff spot with three games left to play.
After the very first game of the season, Threehouse spoke about how summer league baseball is really a time for the players to grow and victories come second. But now, with the team in the midst of a playoff push, the Oilers are all-in on winning.
“When we went out to the (post-game) huddle, they already knew what happened,” Threehouse said. “They were checking. We’re in win-now mode. We’re in playoff mode now. The developmental stuff is out the door now. It’s all about winning games and seeing if we can pull this off.”
Of course, with any playoff push comes high emotions, and teams need a lightning rod. Threehouse is relying on the players to keep themselves in check with the understanding that any one of them could be asked to step up in the big moment.
“It just comes down to everybody having to take a turn to lead,” Threehouse said. “We’ve got some really good performances from different guys down the stretch, and had some good games. But it can’t be the same guy over and over and over. Some other guy has to step up when the time’s right, and that’s what’s going on. So we’re just gonna keep preaching, ‘hey, when your turn comes, be ready to go, because you never know when that’s gonna be.’”
The Oilers will look to take one step closer to the playoffs in their next game, a home affair against the Tarp Skunks on July 24 at 6:30 p.m.
AT OLEAN
Jamestown 000 0002 000 R:2 H:10 E:1
Olean 321 100 10X R:8 H:10 E:2
JT: McLean (2 SO, 1 BB), Musone (1 SO, 1 BB), Muncy (1 SO, 3 BB), McCall (0 SO, 2 BB) and Fetchik
OL: Manendo (7 SO, 1 BB), Lewis (3 SO, 1 BB) and Smith
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