Mustangs end long diamond win drought against rival Purple Eagles

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 13 April 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Izaiah Rhim slides safely into third base as Albion third baseman Andy Ashworth waits for the throw. The action took place during the Mustangs win over the Purple Eagles this afternoon at Vets Park.

Ending a 14 year drought, Medina downed defending champion Albion 9-2 this afternoon in a season opening Niagara-Orleans League baseball game.

Medina, which had dropped 26 straight games to Albion in N-O competition over the previous 13 years, broke the contest open with a big five run fourth inning scoring burst.

Leading by a narrow 2-1 margin, Medina combined a wild pitch, back-to-back RBI singes by Lawson Fenton and winning pitcher Jason Hellwig, an RBI sacrifice fly by Kyle Herman and a bases loaded walk into the decisive fourth inning uprising which boosted the Mustangs advantage to 7-1. A walk and a single by Devonte Howard ignited the uprising which also included a single by Josh Scroger. Howard also turnd in a coule of nice defensive plays from his third base position.

Albion’s JJ Downs takes a throw at second base to pick off Medina runner Shane Freeman.

“The kids played with confidence and played the way we expect them to play,” said Medina Coach Eric Hellwig.

The Mustangs boosted the lead to 9-1 by scoring twice in the fifth on a balk and a fielders choice play off the bat of Matt Riemer who had two hits on the day.

Hellwig went the distance on the mound allowing only 3 hits with 8 strikeouts.

“Jason had outstanding control in hitting his spots,” said Coach Hellwig.

Albion’s Brady Meakin bangs out a double.

Medina jumped out to an early 2-0 lead by scoring once in the first on a two out single by Riemer and once in the second on an error.

Albion did cut the deficit to 2-1 by scoring in the top of the third on singles by Matt Howell and JJ Downs and a balk. However, the Purple Eagles left runners stranded at second and third as Hellwig got out of further trouble on an inning ending infield popup.

Albion also got runners to second and third in the fifth after a walk and a double by Brady Meakin but Hellwig again quickly got out of the jam, this time with an inning ending strikeout.