Niagara Nationals win Lancer Classic

Contributed Photo – Niagara Nationals players and coaches poise with the championship trophy after taking top honors at the Lancer Classic Tournament today at Lewiston. The players include, in front Carson Harper, Chris Goyette, Mitchell Holtz and Aiden Johnston. In back are Sam Murphy, Nate Sherman, Liam Ward, David Belsito, Joe Dell’oso and Trevor Luthert. The coaches include Chris Goyette, Vinnie Dell’oso, Dave Belsito and Jon Sherman.

Taking charge with a big early inning scoring burst the Niagara Nationals went on to defeat Lancaster 10-0 in the championship game of the Lancer Classic tournament this evening at Lewiston.

The Nationals erupted for 6 runs in the decisive second inning highlighted by a double by Liam Ward and a single by Sam Murphy.

Murphy finished with 3 hits and Ward and Nate Sherman 2 each for the Nationals which tacked on 2 more insurance runs in both the third and fourth innings.

Joe Dell’oso picked up the win on the mound allowing only 3 hits and striking out 4.

In the semifinals the Nationals defeated Nickel City 8-2 as Dell’oso had 3 hits and Sherman and Aiden Johnson 2 each.

The Nationals scored 3 times in the third inning highlighted by a double by Sherman.

Doubles by Sherman, Dell’oso and Johnston then keyed a 4 run fifth frame.

Johnston and Trevor Luthart shared the pitching duties scattering 7 hits and striking out 5.

The Nationals began the busy day by blanking the Baldwinsville Bees 10-0 in the quarterfinals as Carson Harper hurled a 2 hitter with 1 strikeout.

The Nationals broke the game open by scoring 3 times in the fourth inning on hits by David Belsito, Luthart and Holtz and 4 times in the fifth as Sherman, Dell’oso, Ward, Belsito and Hunter Briggs had hits.

Sherman and Belsito both had a pair of hits.