Albion scores key win over Roy-Hart clinching a tie for the N-O title for Medina

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Michael DiCureia slides into third base as Roy-Hart’s Karl Darling awaits the ball. The action took place during the Purple Eagles win over the Rams this afternoon at Vets Park.

One big scoring inning combined with steady pitching and defense earned Albion a key 4-2 victory over defending champion Roy-Hart at Vets Park this afternoon clinching at least a tie for the Niagara-Orleans League baseball title for Medina.

The loss drops Roy-Hart to 8-3 and a game behind front-running Medina (9-2) with one game remaining for each team on the N-O schedule. Medina can now lockup outright possession of the title with a win over Wilson at 5 this afternoon at Vets Park in the annual Jeff Evoy Memorial game.

The contest was the completion of a suspended game which was started Wedensday in Albion but halted in the bottom of the first inning due to rain and wet grounds.

Thomas Furmanski, who hurled a two hitter, delivers a pitch for Albion.

Trailing 2-0, Albion bunched all of its runs into a big four run fourth inning on back to back run producing triples by Bryce Pritchard and Michael DiCureia followed by an RBI single by Michael Harling and an RBI double by Isaiah Callicutt. A double by winning pitcher Thomas Furmanski ignited the uprising which also included a single by Ryan Krenning.

On the mound, Furmanski hurled a two hitter with 5 strikeouts.

Defensively, the Purple Eagles got a big game from DiCureia in rightfield who made a fine running catch to end the fifth inning stranding a Roy-Hart runner at third base and then a nifty diving catch to end the sixth inning.

Roy-Hart’s two runs came on a Charlie Bruning home run in the first inning on Wednesday before play was halted.

Roy-Hart, which defeated Akron (7-5) 10-0 earlier in the morning in a makeup game, will now need a win over Wilson on Monday combined with a Lakemen victory over the Mustangs this afternoon to claim a share of the N-O title.

Albion is now 6-5 in N-O action with a makeup game  against Newfane still to play on Monday.

Roy-Hart 10, Akron 0
A big five run third inning highlighted by a two-run single by Tom Russo III and RBI singles by Noah Hardy and Gavyn Boyle, keyed Roy-Hart to the win over Akron.

The Rams also got a solo home run by Bruning in the forth inning.

Hardy and winning pitcher Walker Samanka both finished with 3 hits as Bruning and Boyle each had 2.

On the mound, Samanka hurled a 3 hitter with 2 strikeouts over the first five innings. Charlie Brigham pitched the final two innings giving up no hits and striking out 2.

Akron finishes the N-O season at 7-5.

Roy-Hart’s Tom Russo III tags out Albion’s Ryan Krenning at second base.

Albion’s Ryan Krenning dives back to first base ahead of the throw to Roy-Hart’s Walker Samanka.