Mustangs rally past Warriors in Class B1 quarterfinals

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina catcher Justin Morgan tries to put the tag on Tonawanda’s Andrew Ball during the Mustangs 7-6 sectional win over the Warriors this afternoon at Vets Park.

Rebounding from deficits of 5-1 and 6-2, No. 4 seed Medina rallied to nip No. 5 Tonawanda 7-6 this afternoon in a Section VI Class B1 quarterfinal contest at Vets Park.

Medina closed the gap to 6-4 by scoring twice in the bottom of the fourth inning on an error and a fielders choice play off the bat of Quentin Adkins. A walk and a bunt single by Jason Hellwig set up the threat.

The Medina defense then came up with a huge double play in the top of the fifth inning to get out of a bases loaded jam. The Warriors got the bases loaded with no outs on two singles and an error. Medina got the first out as second baseman Izaiah Rhim fielded a grounder and threw on to home for the force. The Mustangs then turned the clutch inning ending double play from Hellwig at shortstop to catcher Justin Morgan to third baseman Kyle Herman.

Medina’s Brennan Zinkievich races to third base after his key two-run triple in the sixth inning.

The Mustangs then rallied into the lead for good at 7-6 by scoring three times in the bottom of the sixth inning on a two-run triple by Brennan Zinkievich and an RBI single by Morgan. A single by Herman and a walk set up the opportunity as both runners advanced into scoring position after a balk.

Matt Riemer, who came on in relief in the third inning for the Mustangs, then put the Warriors down in order in the top of the seventh on two strikeouts and a ground out to Rhim at second to lock up the win.

Tonawanda had built up the early lead by scoring three times in the first inning and twice in the third.

Medina will next face the winner of the No. 8 Eden vs. No. 1 City Honors game in the semifinals on Thursday.

Matt Riemer picked up the win on the mound for the Mustangs.