Nationals upset at Cooperstown Tourney

Contributed Photo – Niagara Nationals players and coaches are shown here at the Cooperstown Dream Park, the site of the Cooperstown Tournament. From left are Coach Brian Fry, Coach Lee Briggs, Trevor Luthart, Nate Sherman, Chris Goyette, Joe Dell’oso, Sam Murphy, Brian Fry, Dom Cassata, Maverick O’Neill, Matt Lyskawa, Liam Ward, Mitchell Holtz, Hunter Briggs, Coach Vinnie Dell’oso and Coach Chris Goyette.

The No. 49 seed Buffalo Wings upset the No. 16 Niagara Nationals 7-5 Thursday in the elimination round of the Cooperstown Tournament.

The Wings struck for three quick runs in the top of the second on an error, a double and a home run. However, the Nationals answered right back in the home half of the frame on a two-run single by Michell Holtz to cut the deficit to 3-2.

The Nationals finally pulled even at 5-5 by scoring three times in the third inning. Liam Ward ignited the rally with a single and came home on a double by Nate Sherman. Then following an error, Murphy drove in Sherman on a fielders choice play and Trevor Luthart followed up with an RBI single to knot the contest.

The Wings though regained the lead for good at 7-5 by scoring solo runs in both the fourth and fifth innings.

The Nationals were unable to score the rest of the way as Joe Dell’oso was stranded in the fourth after a lead off single as were Luthart and Holtz in the sixth after banging out lead-off singles.

Goyette pitched four and one-third innings striking out three while Maverick O’Neill finished the fifth registering one strikeout and Luthart hurled a perfect sixth.

The Nationals had advanced to the elimination round by going 5-1 in the round-robin portion of the tournament.