Purple Eagles clinch tie for N-O title; Mustangs down Raiders

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina pitcher Jason Hellwig tries to put the tag on Barker’s Kyle Secore at home during the Mustangs win over the Raiders at Vets Park this afternoon.

Two-time defending champion Albion clinched a least a tie for the Niagara-Orleans League baseball title this afternoon with the combination of the Purple Eagles 5-0 victory over host Roy-Hart and Newfane’s 6-4 win over Akron.

The victory boosts Albion’s league record to 10-1 and gives the Purple Eagles a three game lead over Medina, Akron and Roy-Hart with three games to go.

Medina improved to 9-4 with an 11-2 victory over Barker at Vets Park while Roy-Hart and Akron now both slip to 8-4 with the losses.

Austin Loyd hurled a three hit shutout with three strikeouts for Albion.

Breaking away from a scoreless deadlock, Albion moved on top by scoring twice in the fourth inning on a double by Conner Barleben and a bunt single by Trey Hart. A double by Steven Stauss ignited the rally.

The Purple Eagles later locked up the win by scoring three times in the seventh on a two-run triple by John Krieger and a sacrifice fly by John Warne. A single by Aaron Burnside started the uprising.

Krieger, Stauss, Barleben and Dominic DiCureia each finished with two hits.

Andy Jacobs went the distance on the mound for Roy-Hart giving up 10 hits and striking out five.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Tanner Gregoire tries to get the ball on a Hellwig steal attempt.

Medina 11, Barker 2
Jason Hellwig hurled a two hitter with 12 strikeouts to lead Medina past Barker 11-2.

Breaking away from an early 1-1 tie, Medina moved on top to stay by scoring three times in the third inning on RBI singles by Josh Scroger, Justin Morgan and Sam Crowley. Tyler Ames and Matt Riemer also both contributed hits to the rally.

The Mustangs then broke the game open by scoring five times in the fourth inning capped off by RBI doubles by Riemer and Hellwig. An error plated the first three runs after singles by Ames and Shane Freeman and a walk had loaded the bases.

Freeman also had a two-run double in the sixth and Scroger an RBI triple in the first.

Freeman and Scroger both finished with three hits as Morgan, Hellwig, Riemer and Crowley each had two.

Barker, which slips to 3-9, briefly tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning on a single by Tim Flint.

Newfane 6, Akron 4
Josh Kneeland and Will Newton combined to throw a three hitter with 12 strikeouts sparking Newfane past Akron 6-4.

Kneeland also banged out a double and triple and Newton had an RBI double.

Nick O’Lay also had two hits, including a double, for Newfane which is now 5-6.