Mustangs blank Tigers in N-O diamond opener as Woodworth hurls a no hitter

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Preston Woodworth hurled a no hitter to lead defending champion Medina to a 10-0 win over Akron in the Niagara-Orleans League opener at Vets Park this afternoon.

Highlighted by a dominating pitching performance by junior Preston Woodworth Medina opened defense of its Niagara-Orleans League baseball title by blanking Akron 10-0 at Vets Park this afternoon.

Woodworth hurled a no hitter with 16 strikeouts over the six innings of the run rule contest.

Woodworth also had a big day at the plate banging out three doubles and driving in a pair of runs. Hadrain Batista also had three hits including a double and two RBIs and Jimmy Dieter had a pair of hits and an RBI.

Medina moved on top to stay by scoring three quick runs in the first inning on back-to-back RBI doubles by Aidan Papaj and Woodworth followed by an RBI single by Batista. A leadoff double by Vinny Gray ignited that uprising.

The Mustangs added two runs in the third on RBI singles by Batista and Kolton Fletcher and two more in the fourth on a groundout and an RBI double by Woodwoth.

Ryan Pegelow belted a solo home run in the fifth inning for the Mustangs which closed out the win with a pair of runs in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Cam Fike and an RBI single by Dieter. The frame was also aided by doubles by Woodworth and Batista.

The Mustangs are next scheduled to host Akron at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Vets Park in a game that was originally slated to be played at Akron on Wednesday.

Medina’s Ryan Pegelow celebrates hitting a home run as he rounds second base.