Mustangs take two from Purple Eagles

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina pitcher Aidan Paul carries Aidan Papaj off on his shoulders after Papaj banged out the game winning RBI single in the eighth inning for a 3-2 win over Albion at Vets Park this afternoon. The Mustangs also completed a 7-4 win over the Purple Eagles to finish a game suspended on Monday.

Medina swept to a pair of victories over rival Albion at Vets Park this afternoon to open the Niagara-Orleans League baseball season at 2-0.

Medina first nipped the Albion 3-2 in eight innings in the regularly scheduled game.

The Mustangs then completed the sweep by finishing up Monday’s game, which was halted by bad weather and field conditions at Albion, by posting a 7-4 victory.

Aidan Papaj drove in the winning run for the Mustangs in the opener by banging out a single with two out in the bottom of the eighth inning. He also drove in a run in the second inning with a sacrifice fly which gave the Mustangs a 2-0 lead.

Albion tied the game in the third inning on a two out, two-run triple by Jason Conn.

The contest was a pitchers duel as Medina’s Aidan Paul allowed just 2 hits and struck out 16 in seven and two-thirds innings of work on the mound and Albion’s Dallas Ecker scattered 5 hits and struck out 5 in six and one-third innings of work.

Albion catcher Nate Gibson also had a big game as he threw three runners out trying to steal second base.

In the second game, Medina held a 7-3 lead with two out in the bottom of the third inning when play resumed today. Albion did get the bases loaded in the frame but Medina pitcher Julian Woodworth got out of the jam with a clutch inning ending strikeout.

The Purple Eagles scored the only run over the last four innings in the sixth inning off a double play triggered by Medina shortstop Aiden Pitts which helped get the Mustangs out of a bases loaded jam.

Albion also turned a double play in the seventh inning started by shortstop Amari Jones.

Woodworth scattered 3 hits and struck out 6 over the final four and one-third innings.

Medina had scored 7 runs in the top of the third inning on Monday to erase a 2-0 deficit and key the win. The Mustangs scored on an RBI single by Carter Woodworth, a double steal, two wild pitches and three errors. Leadoff singles by Papaj and Aidan Paul ignited that uprising.

Newfane 3, Barker 1
Newfane trimmed Barker 3-1 in another pitchers duel. Newfane’s Aiden Perry threw 1 hitter with 9 strikeouts over the seven innings while Barker’s Aidan Voss allowed only 2 hits and struck out 9 over six and two-thirds innings.

Jon Beiter banged out what proved to be the game winning two-run single in the first inning.

Wilson 2, Roy-Hart 0
Pitching likewise dominated in Wilson’s 2-0 win over Roy-Hart. Wilson’s Tyler Johnston allowed 3 hits with 10 strikeouts over the seven innings while Roy-Hart’s Thomas Russo gave up just 1 hit and struck out 14 over six innings.

Wilson scored on an error and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Johnston.

Byron-Bergen 7, Kendall 5

Rallying from a 4-0 deficit, Byron-Bergen downed Kendall 7-5 in a Genesee Region League game.

Vinny D’Agostino, James Fox and Jacek Kwiatkowski each had 2 hits for Kendall. Fox had a two-run single, Zach Barrett a double and James Swift an RBI single in the third inning which put the Eagles up 4-0.