Medina captures Midget ‘A’ playoff title

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina catcher Justin Morgan takes a perfect throw from left fielder Tyler Ames for an out at home during Medina’s title clinching win over host Lockport 1 this evening.

Top seeded Medina captured the best two out of three Lockport Midget ‘A’ League playoff championship series in two straight games by scoring a narrow 8-6 victory over Lockport 1 this evening at Outwater Park.

Medina had posted an 11-5 victory over Lockport 1 in the opening game of the series on Tuesday at Medina.

Breaking away from an early 3-3 deadlock, Medina moved on top to stay by scoring four runs in the second inning without the benefit of a hit on four walks, a fielders choice play and a two run error.

Medina later added what proved to be an important insurance run in the fifth inning on a walk, a double by Jason Hellwig and a wild pitch.

Medina also got off to a quick start scoring three times in the top of the first on two walks, a double by Connor Barleben, an error, a fielders choice play off the bat of winning pitcher Matt Riemer, a hit by Cyrus MaFarland and an RBI single by Brett Riemer.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Matt Riemer went the distance on the mound for Medina.

However, Lockport 1 answered right back with three runs in the bottom of the first on four hits and a fielders choice play to briefly knot the contest.

Lockport added one run in the third and two in the fifth on three hits and a error to cut the deficit to 8-6 but could get no closer.

Medina missed several chances to break the game open leaving the bases loaded in both the first and sixth innings and stranding two runners in the fourth and sixth frames.

Riemer went the distance on the mound scattering 10 hits and striking out 5.

Defensively, Medina got big plays for outs from Barleben at third base in the first inning, Hellwig at short in the fourth, Quentin Adkins in center in the fifth and Tyler Howard in right in the seventh as well as a perfect throw from Tyler Ames in left to catcher Justin Morgan for an out at home in the second.