Mustangs, Rams score thrilling one run semi wins setting up an all N-O B2 title contest

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Brian Fry slides into third base with a triple as Wilson third baseman Tom Baia awaits the throw. The action took place during the Mustangs 3-2 semifinal win over the Lakemen this afternoon at Vets Park.

Medina and Roy-Hart both scored exciting one run semifinal round victories this evening to set up an all Niagara-Orleans League matchup for the Section VI Class B2 baseball championship.

No. 4 seed Medina survived a big seventh inning scare to edge past No. 8 Wilson 3-2  at Vets Park while No. 2 Roy-Hart pushed across a run in the bottom of the ninth inning up nip No. 3 Southwestern 7-6 at Gasport.

AJ Seefelt, right, whose home run provided the margin of victory, gets set to celebrate with teammates Alex Allis, left, Chris Goyette and Brett Riemer (7).

The B2 championship game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at Gowanda.

Medina 3, Wilson 2
Wilson got the bases loaded to open the top of the seventh on an error, a single by Jackson Rotella and an intentional walk. However, Medina pitcher Chris Goyette  worked his way out of the jam with two clutch strikeouts and a groundout to Trevor Luthart at first to preset e the narrow victory and advance the Mustangs to the finals for the first time since 2005.

The margin of victory for the Mustangs came on a home run by AJ Seefeldt with one out in the fifth inning which snapped a 2-2 tie.

Medina’s Matt Saj is safe at second base as Wilson’s Jackson Rotella waits for the throw.

Medina had rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to knot the contest by tallying twice in the fourth inning without the benefit of a hit. Three walks loaded the bases setting up the threat as a fielders choice play off the bat of Matt Saj and an error plated the two runs.

Wilson had grabbed an early 2-0 lead by scoring once in the first on a wild pitch with the bases loaded and once in the second on a home run by John Bender.

The damage could have been much worse for Medina in the first inning but the Mustangs were able to capitalize on a Wilson base running mistake to turn an infield fly ball call into an unassisted double play by Alex Allis at third base.

The Mustangs defense also turned another double play in the third inning from Seefeldt at second to Luthart at first to wipe out a Lakemen scoring threat.

Wilson, which split a pair of games with Medina during the N-O season, also left the bases loaded in both the first and fourth innings and left a runner stranded at third in the fifth.

Goyette went the distance on the mound for the Mustangs giving up 9 hits and striking out 6.

Roy-Hart 7, Southwestern 6 (9)
Pinch hitter Karson Grover banged out a one out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to earn Roy-Hart a return trip to the B2 finals.  A single by Charlie Brigham and a double by Walker Samanka put runners at second and third setting up the threat for the Rams.

Karson Grover bangs out the game winning hit for Roy-Hart in the ninth inning of the Rams 7-6 win over Southwestern at Gasport.

Jake Bruning picked up the win on the mound for Roy-Hart allowing 4 hits and striking out 7 over the final four innings.

Roy-Hart also got off to a fast start grabbing a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-run single by Ben Schwab and an RBI single by Gavyn Boyle. A triple by Al Xapsos ignited that uprising.

Southwestern though battled back to take a 5-3 lead by scoring two unearned runs in the third and then three more tallies in the fifth on a two-run triple by Cole Snyder and a fielders choice play.

However, the Rams answered the challenge by scoring three times in the sixth on RBI singles by Jake Bruning and Schwab and an error to regain what proved to be a brief 6-5 lead.

The Trojans wasted little time in retying the contest at 6-6 by plating a run in the top of the seventh on a two out single by Aidan Kennedy. A double by Snyder set up the threat.

Roy-Hart did get a runner up third in the home half of the seventh after a single by Brigham and a sacrifice bunt by Samanaka but could not capitalize as Snyder registered a clutch inning ending strikeout for the Trojans.

Jake Bruning quickly put the Trojans down in order in the top of the eighth on three strikeouts.

Roy-Hart got two runners aboard in the bottom of the eighth on a walk and a hit batter. The Rams though again couldn’t capitalize as Snyder got out of trouble with a strikeout and a groundout back to the mound.

Southwestern did get a runner aboard in the top of the ninth but Jake Bruning picked him off and then ended the inning with a strikeout.

That set the stage for Roy-Hart’s decisive rally in the home half of the ninth as hits by Brigham and Samanaka set up Carson’s clutch pinch hit game winning single.

Roy-Hart’s Charlie Bruning scores the tying run in the sixth inning between Southwestern catcher Brian Burns and pitcher Mitchell Pascarella.