Akron tops Roy-Hart to tighten N-O title race

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Akron’s Drew Romesser slides into third base ahead of a tag by Roy-Hart’s Brayden Hy during the host Tigers win over the league leading Rams this afternoon.

The Niagara-Orleans League baseball title race really tightened up this afternoon as Akron upended front-running Roy-Hart 5-2 at Akron.

The loss drops Roy-Hart to 9-2 and slices the Rams lead to just a half a game over defending champion Medina which is 8-2.

Roy-Hart’s John Conley makes a running catch in centerfield.

Roy-Hart will close out the N-O season at Albion on Wednesday (4:45 p.m.) while Medina has a home-and-home series remaining against Barker over the next two days. The Mustangs will host the Raiders on Wednesday (4:45 p.m.)and then visit Barker on Thursday.

Roy-Hart did grab a 2-1 lead by scoring twice in the top of the fourth inning on a triple by Brayden Hy and a sacrifice fly by Jake Gould.

However, the Rams could not cross home plate again as they went on to have two runners thrown out at third base (one in the fourth and one in the sixth) and another at second (in the sixth).

Akron wasted little time in regaining the lead for good as the Tigers answered right back with the decisive four runs in the bottom of the fourth on a three-run triple by Drew Romesser and a sacrifice fly by Dawson Stone,

Steven Doktor picked up the win on the mound for the Tigers as he allowed 6 hits and struck out 2 in six plus innings. Jack Klodzinski came on with one on in the seventh and retired the next three battlers to close out the win.

Ryan Mettler went the distance on the mound for Roy-Hart giving up 6 hits and striking out 4. He also had 2 hits at the plate including a triple.

Now at 7-4 Akron will wrap up the N-O season by hosting Albion on Thursday.

In the other N-O contest Wilson defeated rival Newfane 7-3 as Luke Atlas had 3 hits and winning pitcher Tyler Johnston 2.

N-O Standings: Roy-Hart 9-2, Medina 8-2, Akron 7-4, Albion 5-5, Newfane 4-8, Wilson 3-9, Barker 2-8.