Niagara Orleans captures Legion playoff title

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Chris Goyette hurled a complete game three hitter for Niagara Orleans in this afternoon’s Americn Legion district playoff championship win over Jurek Post.

Moving on top to stay with a quick first inning scoring burst, Niagara Orleans went on to defeat Jurek Post 5-1 in the Buffalo District American Legion playoff championship game this afternoon at Dawson Field in Cheektowaga.

Niagara Orleans grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first on an RBI double by Josh Milleville and a run producing single by Kyle Finn.

Jurek did cut the deficit to 2-1 with a run in the top of the sixth inning on  a leadoff triple followed by sacrifice fly but could get no closer.

AJ Seefeldt slides into third base for Niagara Orleans as Jurek third baseman Colin Fryling awaits the throw.

Niagara Orleans got that one back with interest in the home half of the sixth by tallying three times on RBI singles by AJ Seefeldt, his second hit of the afternoon, and Liam McMurray and an error to open up a 5-1 lead. The clinching uprising was also highlighted by a triple by Jackson Strong and a single by Finn.

Chris Goyette went the distance on the mound for Niagara Orleans allowing only three hits and striking out six.

After giving out a one out double in the first inning, Goyette retired the next 11 batters in a row. He later got out of further trouble in the sixth inning with a clutch inning ending strikeout and then retired Jurek in order in the top of the seventh on two pop outs to shortstop Brian Fry and a strikeout to close out the win.

The Niagara Orleans defense turned a key double play in the fifth frame from third baseman Vinny Mauro to second baseman Andrew Stillinger to Milleville at first.

Niagara Orleans, which went 5-0 in the playoffs to finish with a 16-4 overall record, advanced to the finals by defeating Orchard Park 16-2 and Jurek 7-0 in Saturday’s round robin competition. The win over Jurek avenged a 5-1 regular season loss.