Medina posts key win over Akron

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina shortstop Jason Hellwig gets set to put the tag on Akron’s Steve Borowczyk during the Mustangs 6-4 win over the Tigers this evening at Vets Park.

Putting together a clutch late inning rally, Medina nipped Akron 6-4 this evening in a key Niagara-Orleans League baseball game at Vets Park.

The Mustangs victory, combined with CSAT’s 3-1 nine inning win over Roy-Hart, really tightens up what was already a close four-way N-O title chase.

Those two results leave Albion in sole possession of first place at 4-1 followed by Medina and Roy-Hart both at 6-2 and Akron at 5-2. Albion is slated to host Roy-Hart in a key make-up game at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Breaking away from a 4-4 deadlock, Medina regained the lead for good by scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth inning on clutch two out RBI singles by Sam Crowley and Shane Freeman. A lead off single by Kyle Herman, a stolen base by pinch runner Tyler Ames and a sacrifice bunt by Justin Morgan helped to trigger the rally.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Pinch runner Tyler Ames scores the go ahead run for Medina in the sixth inning.

Matt Riemer then came on in relief of starter Adam Hoot to lock up the victory by retiring Akron in order in the top of the seventh on two strikeouts and an infield groundout.

Hoot allowed only four hits and struck out eight over the first six innings. He registered two clutch strikeouts to get out of a bases loaded jam in the third inning and then turned a botched Akron bunt attempt into a key inning ending double play in the sixth.

“Without this win we don’t control our own destiny, with it we do and that’s the position we want to be in,” said Medina Coach Eric Hellwig whose Mustangs are now slated to host CSAT in a make-up game at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Akron jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning on a lead off triple by Zach Pfentner and an error.

Medina pulled even in the second inning on an RBI double by Devonte Howard, which followed a single by Justin Morgan, and then took a 2-1 lead in the third on an RBI double by Josh Scroger.

The Mustangs then built the lead to 4-1 by scoring twice in the fourth on an RBI double by Crowley and an error. A one out single by Howard sparked the rally which also included a single by Freeman.

Akron though answered right back with three runs in the top of the fifth to quickly retie the contest at 4-4 on a two-run double by Caleb Martin and an error.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Sam Crowley singled in the winning run for the Mustangs.

However, Hoot got out of further trouble by notching a key inning ending strikeout. He then kept the Tigers off the scoreboard in the sixth with the nifty double play off the bunt attempt.

That set the stage for the Mustangs offensive rally in the bottom of the sixth on RBI hits by Crowley and Freeman which provided the margin of victory as Medina topped Akron for the second time this week. The Mustangs had knocked the Tigers from the unbeaten ranks with a 4-1 win on Monday.

CSAT 3, Roy-Hart 1 (9)
CSAT combined two errors and a pair of singles to score twice in the ninth and upend Roy-Hart 3-1.

Andy Xapsos had two hits for Roy-Hart.

Newfane 13, Wilson 6
Nick O’Lay had two doubles, a single and two RBIs and Tyler Jurek two hits to lead the attack for Newfane in the 13-6 win over Wilson as the Panthers improve to 3-4.

Hunter Howland had three hits for Wilson which slips to 0-8.