Rams late surge nips Purple Eagles

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 April 2017 at 8:01 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion starting pitcher JaQuess Harrison tags out Roy-Hart’s Ben Schwab at home plate during the Purple Eagles narrow 4-3 loss to the visiting Rams this afternoon.

A pair of unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning proved to be the difference as defending champion Roy-Hart edged past host Albion 4-3 this afternoon in a Niagara-Orleans League game.

Breaking away from a 2-2 deadlock, Roy-Hart scored twice with one out in the seventh on an error. A single by Nick Kubas and a bunt single by Jacob Bruning set up the opportunity.

Roy-Hart starter Cameron Meadows delivers a pitch.

Albion did battle in the bottom of the seventh scoring once on a wild pitch after two walks and an error had loaded the bases. However, the Purple Eagles left two runners stranded as Ben Schwab, who came on in relief in the seventh for the Rams, registered a clutch game ending strikeout.

Roy-Hart had built up a 2-0 lead on RBI singles by Brendan Hess in both the fourth and sixth innings. A single by Schwab helped set up the fourth inning tally. Charlie Bruning and Schwab both banged out singles to set to the sixth inning run.

Albion though rallied to knot the contest by scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out, two-run double by Tony Velljo-Miller. Singles by Liam Ward and Vincent Zona set up that opportunity.

Cameron Meadows, who pitched the first six innings for Roy-Hart, registered a key strikeout to end that rally with a runner stranded at third. Meadows also notched a big strikeout to get out of a bases loaded jam in the first frame. He had 8 strikeouts and allowed six hits.

JaQuess Harrison pitched the first six innings for Albion allowing 5 hits and striking out 9.

Roy-Hart is now 2-0 and Albion 2-1 in N-O action.