Mustangs edge past Panthers

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Brandon Heschke slides safely into second base on a steal attempt as the ball gets away from Newfane shortstop Kyle Jurek. Second baseman Tyler Oudette moves in for the Panthers. The action took place during the Mustangs win over the Panthers this morning at Vets Park.

Hits and runs proved hard to come by as Medina edged past Newfane 2-1 this morning in a Niagara-Orleans League baseball game at Vets Park.

Improving to 3-2 in N-O action, the Mustangs had only five hits including two by Trevor Luthart and one each by Brian Fry, Nate Sherman and winning pitcher Zach Fike.

Fry’s hit, a third inning double, drove in Fike, who had singled, with Medina’s first run.

Brian Fry bangs out a double to drive in Medina’s first run.

The Mustangs later added what proved to be the game winer in the fifth inning on a fielders choice play off the bat of Sherman.

Newfane got the bases loaded in the third inning on consecutive singles by Jacob Weaver, Jarrett Gilson and Matt DiTullio but Medina got out of the jam on a groundout to second baseman AJ Seefeldt who threw to Fry for the forceout at second.

The Panthers later got runners to second and third in the sixth inning on a single by David Bunn and an error but again the Mustangs got out of the jam on a groundout to Seefeldt.

Newfane finally broke onto the scoreboard with two out in the top of the seventh as Caleb Auernhamer tripled and came home on a single by Gilson.

However, the Mustangs again got out of further trouble as relief hurler Brett Riemer registered a clutch game ending strikeout to preserve the narrow win.

Fike went five and one-third innings allowing 4 hits and striking out 4.  Riemer allowed 2 hits and struck out 2 over the final one and two-thirds innings.

DiTullio went the distance on the mound for Newfane scattering 5 hits and striking out 6.

The loss drops Newfane to 0-4.