Rain stymies Niagara Nationals tourney title hopes again

For the second time this month rainy weather has derailed the Niagara Nationals hopes to claim a tournament title.

Earlier this month, the Nationals were awarded second place at the Darien Lake Tournament after rain washed out the title contest. THe Nationals were awarded second place based on being the lower seed for the title contest.

This weekend, the Nationals compiled a 3-0 record to advanced to the finals of the Nickel City Tournament only to again see rain wash out the championship game.

The Nationals opened the Nickel City Tourney with a 9-2 win over Upper Deck as Brian Fry had three hits while Joe Dell’Oso and Chris Goyette both drove in 2 runs and Nate Sherman, Matt Lyskawa, Trevor Luthart, and Mitchell Holtz 1 each. Luthart, Goyette, Sam Murphy, Dell’Oso, Lyskawa and Liam Ward each pitched an inning.

In the second round, the Nationals shutout the WNY Elite 3-0 as Goyette, Dell’Oso and Luthart combined to hurl a one hitter. At the plate, Fry had 2 hits, including a double, and Murphy 2 hits an an RBI.

The Nationals then erupted for 12 runs in the first inning in route to a 21-1 victory over Phoenix to gain a berth in the finals.

Luthart had 4 hits, Sherman, Ward and Murphy 3 and Lyskawa, Goyette and Dominic Cassata 2. Ward’s hits included a two-run homer and a double as Fry, Goyette and Luthart also all had doubles.

In the Darien Lake Tournament the Nationals opened with a 9-5 win over the Geneva Barons highlighted by 2 home runs by Cassata and one by Ward.

The second round saw the Nationals drop a narrow 5-3 decision to the Ontario Prospects. Ward had a triple.

Rebounding, the Nationals defeated Clarence 9-1 as Dell’Oso struck out 7 and scattered 5 hits over six innings. Fry, Ward and Cassata each had 2 hits.

Keeping the momentum, the Nationals next defeated Webster 16-7 to gain a berth in the finals.

Ward had a three-run homer in the first inning, Fry a double and triple and Sherman a double to lead the attack.

In between the two tournaments, the Narionals posted a 12-2 win over the Spartans as Sherman and Cassata both had 2 hits and 2 RBIs, Ward a hit and 2 RBIs, Fry 2 hits and an RBI and Goyette 2 hits.