Lyndonville posts key Midget ‘A’ win over Medina to clinch regular season title tie

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville shortstop Ty Hrovat goes high to take a throw as Lucas Evans slides into second base for Medina during this evening’s Midget ‘A’ game won by Lyndonville. Chris Scroger backs up the play.

Avenging a pair of earlier season losses, Lyndonville defeated host Medina 7-2 this evening to clinch at least a tie for the regular season title in the Lockport Midget ‘A’ League.

Improving to 10-4, Lyndonville will visit Lockport 1 Tuesday evening to close out the regular season.

Medina, which slips to 8-5, will host Lockport 2 in a doubleheader Tuesday evening to wrap up the regular season. Medina now needs a sweep of that twin bill along with a Lyndonville loss in order to gain a share of the title.

The contest featured an interesting starting pitching matchup between the top two hurlers from this past spring’s Albion High Niagara-Orleans League and Section VI Class A championship team, Austin Loyd for Lyndonville and Connor Barleben for Medina.

Loyd went the distance scattering three hits and striking out 13. Barleben hurled the first five innings for Medina giving up four hits and striking out 11.

Lyndonville took the lead for good by scoring two quick runs in the first inning on RBI singles by Ty Hrovat and Evan Milleville. A lead off single by Dominic DiCureia and a walk set up the threat.

Medina did cut the deficit to 2-1 in the third on a two out RBI single by Brett Riemer but would get no closer.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Two former Albion High teammates started on the mound tonight as Austin Loyd, left, hurled for Lyndonville and Connor Barleben for Medina.

Lyndonville finally got that run back in the top of the sixth on a single by Michael Wells to go up 3-1.

Medina did answer back with a run in the bottom of the sixth as Jake Cotriss doubled and scored on a fielders choice play. However, Medina left two runners stranded as Loyd bore down to notch a clutch inning ending strike out.

Lyndonville then put a firm lock on the game by erupting four four runs in the top of the seventh on a two run error and a two-run double by AJ Buckland. An error and a walk triggered that uprising.

Loyd then quickly closed out the victory by retiring Medina in order in the bottom of the seventh getting the final two outs on strikeouts.

The Lyndonville defense also came up big including a nice diving catch in right field by Trevor Bentley in the fourth inning after Matt Riemer had led off with a single.