Tigers blank Hornets to clinch tie for title

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Kane Flynn dives to keep the ball in the infield at third base as Bodie Hyde slides in for Oakfield-Alabama. The action took place during the Tigers win over the Hornets this afternoon.

Clinching at least a tie for the division title, Lyndonville blanked host Oakfield-Alabama 5-0 this afternoon in a key Genesee Region League baseball game.

Zach Johnson pitched a sparkling one hitter with 17 strikeouts to set the pace for the undefeated Tigers which improve to 10-0 in the league and 12-0 overall.

Zach Johnson dominated on the mound for the Tigers striking out 17 and allowing only one hit.

Johnson struck out the side in the first, second, fifth and seventh innings and registered two Ks in the fourth and fifth frames.

Oakfield-Alabama’s only threat came in the third inning when back-to-back leadoff walks ended up giving the Hornets runners at second and third with no outs. However, Johnson bore down to quickly get out of the jam with two clutch strikeouts and then a grounder back to the mound.

“That was dominant,” said Lyndonville Coach Shane Price of Johnson’s strong performance.

The Tigers picked up the only two runs they needed as it turned out in the third inning on an RBI double by Kane Flynn and an RBI single by Nathan Dillenbeck. A leadoff double by Devin Rounds ignited that uprising.

Lyndonville doubled its advantage to 4-0 in the fifth inning as an error platted one run and a sacrifice fly by Dillenbeck plated the other.  Singles by Matt Hess and Casey Winiecki set up the threat.

Dillenbeck also drove in the Tigers final run with a triple in the top of the seventh which plated Flynn who had reached on a single.

Lyndonville now holds a three game lead over runner-up Oakfield-Alabama with three league games to go. The Hornets have three league losses.

Lyndonville will next host Kendall at 3 p.m. Sunday to finish a suspended contest. The Tigers held a 5-2 led over the Eagles in the second inning in that contest when play was halted due to rainy weather.

Lyndonville’s Devin Rounds slides safely into third base as Peyton Yasses takes the throw for the Hornets.