Nationals win Showdown Tournament

Contributed Photo – Niagara Nationals players and coaches after capturing the Showdown Tourney title.

The Niagara Nationals won the Upstate Showdown tournament over the weekend by defeating New Era 4-1 in the finals.

The Nationals had a difficult path to the championship. In the quarterfinals, the Nationals beat the Lou Gehrig Iron Horse Red Team 5-0 and in the semi-finals they defeated the Great Lakes Gators 6-0.

The Nationals opened up the tournament by beating Lake Shore 11-1 in five innings. Chris Goyette pitches 4 2/3 innings while Mav O’Neill came on in relief to pitch the final 1 1/3 innings. The two combined on a 3-hitter. Goyette struck out 3 while O’Neill fanned one. Offensively the Nationals were led by Brian Fry, Liam Ward and Aiden Johnston. The three combined were 6-9 at the plate with a double each.

The Nationals defeated the Great Lakes Gators 4-3 in game two. Joe Dell’Oso pitched a complete game 4-hitter striking out 2 and not allowing an earned run. Hunter Briggs, Nate Sherman, Trevor Luthart, Johnston, Mitchell Holtz all chipped in with hits.

The Nationals opened up Championship Sunday by defeating LG 5-0. Luthart and Goyette combined to shut-out the Iron Horsemen. Luthart pitched 6 strong innings striking out 5 while Goyette pitched the final frame retiring all 3 batters he faced.

In the semi-final game, the Nationals beat the Great Lakes Gators 6-0. O’Neill threw a complete game 2-hit shutout. He struck out 5. Johnston and Goyette let the offense. Johnston was 3-3 with 2 triples while Goyette was 2-3.

In the championship game, the Nationals defeated New Era 4-1. Johnston threw a complete game scattering 5 hits and striking out 3. Johnston was 2-3 at the plate and Dell’Oso chipped in with a double.

In five games played, the Nationals only surrendered 5 runs with 2 of them being earned. Defensively, the Nationals flashed the leather turning 6 double plays in total throughout the tournament.

The Nationals open up the Darien Lake Tournament on Friday.