Published: July 19, 2008 10:46 pm            

NYCBL BASEBALL: Power back on track after downing Elmira

NIAGARA FALLS — A day off was just what the doctor ordered for the Niagara Power to get back on track.

Two days after seeing a ninth-inning rally come up just short against division-leading Hornell, Niagara made sure it finished the job against Elmira. Geoff Ball’s one-out, ninth-inning push bunt up the third-base line brought in Caleb Dalman and gave the Power a thrilling 3-2 New York Collegiate Baseball League win at Sal Maglie Stadium on Saturday night. The win is the team’s sixth in eight games since the all-star break and moves Niagara to 12-17 on the year.

“This one was big for us,” Power skipper Sam Kirby said. “We didn’t play very well for about seven innings, but as the game progressed late we got a couple key baserunners and cashed one in.”

Nate Ratke reached base on an error to open the ninth, but was forced at second when Dalman, a pinch hitter, laid down a bunt right back to the pitcher. Fortunately, Dalman was able to advance all the way to third base a few pitches later when Elmira reliever Nicolas Demeo unloaded a wild pitch all the way to the backstop.

“Dalman getting to third was huge,” Kirby said. “He didn’t stop for one second. That put us in a spot where we wanted to be.”

Angelo Buscemi was then intentionally walked to set up Ball’s opportunity, which he took full advantage of.

“I got the sign to push bunt, then I saw the first baseman was playing way in so I went to third base, got a lucky hop over the third baseman’s glove and it worked out great,” Ball said. “Sometimes when you put pressure on a team, they’ll fold and I think that’s what we did to them there.”

One person that certainly didn’t fold under pressure was starting pitcher Matt Willett. The lanky right-hander went six strong innings, allowing only four hits and one earned run. Relievers Mike McManemin and Drew Hollinghead combined for three innings of two-hit shutout baseball with Hollinghead picking up the win.

“We had (one) walk and no hit batters for probably the first time all year,” Kirby said. “If you cut those things out of the equation, you give yourself a good opportunity to win a ballgame.”

Pioneers starter Jay Embree also went six innings, allowing six hits and striking out seven. The only major blemish on his outing was a two-run double off the bat of Power first baseman Jeremy Webb.

Niagara, which sits in sixth place in the West Division, will play fifth-place Webster in its next three games. The Yankees and Lockport resident Cory Brownsten visit Sal Maglie Stadium at 5 p.m. today and then host the Power for a doubleheader at St. John Fisher College at 3 p.m. Monday.

Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262.

        

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