Mustangs edge past Panthers in N-O diamond opener

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Josh Scroger steals home for Medina’s first run of the decisive fourth inning which keyed the Mustangs to a 4-2 win over Newfane this afternoon at Vets Park. The Newfane catcher is Nick Olay.

A bizarre four run fourth inning scoring burst proved to be the difference as Medina trimmed visiting Newfane 4-2 this afternoon at Vets Park in the Niagara-Orleans League baseball opener.

Trailing 1-0, Medina combined two hits, a fielders choice play, a steal of home, a wild pitch and an error into the decisive fourth inning rally.

A lead off walk to Josh Scroger and a double by Jason Hellwig quickly game Medina runners at second and third to ignite the rally. Then, after an out, Scroger stole home for the first run and Hellwig scored on a fielders choice play off the bat of winning pitcher Matt Riemer to put the Mustangs up 2-1.

A single by Tyler Ames, the first of his two hits, followed by a hit batsman kept the rally going giving Medina two more base runners.

The strange inning then came to a wild conclusion as the Mustangs picked up what proved to be the deceive two runs on the same play on a wild pitch and an error for a 4-1 lead.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Jason Hellwig bangs out a double during Medina’s fourth inning rally.

Newfane though got a threat going with two out in the top of the fifth as Trevor Noon singled and Tyler Jurek doubled. However, Noon tried to score on the double but was thrown out at home to end the inning on a nifty relay play from Quentin Adkins in left to Jason Hellwig at shortstop to Justin Morgan at catcher.

The Panthers also stranded a runner at third in the sixth as Riemer notched a clutch inning ending strikeouts.

Medina then had to survive a scare in the top of the seventh before claiming the win.

Newfane quickly picked up a run on an error, a double by Paul Tilyou and an RBI single by Nick Olay, his third hit of the day before Medina could get an out.

Medina finally got the first out as Riemer got a force out at home on a grounder back to the mound.

Bearing down, Riemer then retired the next two hitters on a strikeout and a ground out to Hellwig at shortstop to lockup the narrow victory.

Riemer had a total of 10 strikeouts on the day three of which came in the first inning to quickly end a Newfane threat after Olay led off the game with a triple.

Medina next hosts Roy-Hart in a make-up game at 4 p.m. Saturday. The Rams are also scheduled to makeup a game at Akron Saturday morning before coming to Vets Park.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina catcher Justin Morgan gets set to put the tag on Newfane’s Trevor Noon to help stop a fifth inning Panthers threat.