Purple Eagles edge past Rams

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 21 April 2015 at 12:00 am

Mustangs, Raiders post wins

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Austin Loyd delivers a pitch during the Purple Eagles narrow 6-5 win over visiting Roy-Hart this afternoon.

Escaping a bases loaded jam in the final inning, Albion nipped visiting Roy-Hart 6-5 this afternoon in a wind swept Niagara-Orleans League baseball game.

In other N-O action, Medina defeated host Akron 16-7 and Barker downed Newfane 10-3. The Wilson at CSAT contest was postponed.

Trailing 2-0, Albion pulled even in the third inning on an error and an RBI single by JJ Downs.

The Purple Eagles then took the lead for good at 3-2 in the fourth on an RBI single by Evan Pappalardo.

Albion boosted its advantage to 6-2 by scoring four times with two out in the fifth inning on singles by Brady Meakin, Aaron Burnside, Trey Hart and Dominic DiCureia.

However, Roy-Hart came battling back to make the finish exciting.

The Rams cut the deficit to 6-4 by scoring twice in the sixth on a triple by Josh Baptiste followed by RBI singles by Andy Xapsos and Joe Nolan. Xapsos had three hits on the day.

Roy-Hart then made it a 6-5 game by scoring once in the top of the seventh on two walks and a fielders choice play. However, the Rams left the bases loaded as Downs, who came on in relief in the seventh, got the final out on a strikeout to preserve the Purple Eagles narrow win.

Austin Loyd pitched the first six innings for the Purple eagles to get the win.

Albion is now 2-2 and Roy-Hart 2-3 in N-O action.

Roy-Hart pitcher Joe Nolan loses his cap while delivering a pitch on the windy afternoon.

Medina 16, Akron 7

Trailing 3-2, Medina exploded for eight runs in the fifth inning to key the 16-7 victory at Akron.

A bases loaded three-run double by Brennan Zinkievich highlighted the Mustangs decisive uprising which also included RBI singles by Justin Morgan, Josh Scroger and Lawson Fenton along with a bases loaded walk to Izaiah Rhim and a fielders choice play off the bat of Jason Hellwig.

Keeping the momentum, the Mustangs tacked on a two-run single by Hellwig in the sixth inning and a three-run triple by Quentin Adkins in the seventh.

The Mustangs first two runs came in the fourth inning on a double by Matt Riemer followed by RBI singles by Rhim and Morgan.

Riemer, Morgan and Scroger each had three hits and two RBIs on the day.

Medina improves to 4-0 in N-O competition while Akron slips to 2-2.

Barker 10, Newfane 3

Brad Wilson, who had a no hitter going into the fifth inning, finished with a 4 hitter and 8 strikeouts to lead Barker past Newfane 10-3.

Tanner Gregoire had three hits and 2 RBIs and Devin Mangan 2 hits for the Raiders as did Ryan Gmerek for the Panthers.

Barker is now 2-3 and Newfane 3-1 in N-O action.