Trio hurls Roy-Hart to Section VI Class B2 semifinal victory over Akron

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Thomas Russo gets safely to third base after banging out an RBI triple in the fifth inning of the Rams sectional win over visiting Akron this afternoon.

A trio of pitchers combined on a one hitter as No. 5 Roy-Hart downed visiting Niagara-Orleans League foe Akron 7-1 this afternoon in the semifinals of the Section VI Class B2 playoffs.

Brayden Hy started on the mound for Roy-Hart and allowed 1 hit with 4 strikeouts over the first three and one-third innings. Three of those strikeouts were clutch coming in the first inning to end a big Akron threat after the Tigers had loaded the bases to open the game on a hit batter, a walk and a single.

Thomas Russo came on in the fourth inning with the bases loaded and got the Rams out of the jam with a strikeout and a groundout back to the mound. He struck out 5 in two and two-thirds innings.

Ryan Mettler came on to hurl the seventh inning and retired the Tigers in order with two strikeouts.

Roy-Hart took the lead for good in the third inning on a two-run double by Russo.

The Rams tacked on one run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Jake Gould and then broke the contest open with three runs in the fifth. A triple by Russo plated the first run and a bunt single by Ethan Kuzma followed by singles by Jay Heideman and Remington Albee combined to plate the other two.

Roy-Hart capped off the win with a run in the sixth as Mettler leadoff with a triple an came home on a sacrifice fly by Kuzma.

Improving to 19-4, Roy-Hart will now face N-O rival Medina for the Class B2 title at 12 p.m. Saturday at Grand Island. The Rams and Mustangs split a pair of league meetings and shared the N-O title at 10-2.

Lew-Port 12, Albion 2

Four unearned runs sparked No. 4 Lew-Port to a 12-2 win over visiting No. 8 Albion in a Class B1 semifinal contest.

Roy-Hart’s Ryan Mettler slides into second base as Akron’s Drew Romesser stretches to take the throw.