Tigers nip Irish in G-R diamond opener

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Zach Johnson bangs out a hit during the Tigers win over visiting Notre Dame this afternoon.

Lyndonville pushed across a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to edge past visiting Notre Dame 9-8 this afternoon in a wind swept Genesee Region League baseball opener.

Snapping an 8-8 tie, Lyndonville scored the game winner on a fielders choice play off the bat of Matt Hess. An error, a walk and a single by Devin Rounds loaded the bases to set up the threat.

Lyndonville pitcher Zach Johnson then locked up the win by retiring Notre Dame in order in the top of the seventh on an infield grounder and two strikeouts.

Notre Dame did grab a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first on two errors, a walk and a wild pitch.

Lyndonville though answered back with four runs in the second on an error, and RBI single by Hess and a two-run double by Kane Flynn to take a 4-1 lead. A single by Noah Heinsler ignited the uprising.

However, Notre Dame regained the lead at 6-4 by scoring twice in the third on a wild pitch and a walk and three times in the fourth on a double by Zach Cocking and two fielders choice plays.

The sea-saw battle continued as Lyndonville regained an 8-6 lead by scoring four times in the fifth on a double by Noah Heinsler, a bases loaded walk, a fielders choice play off the bat of Casey Winiecki and a wild pitch. A double by Johnson ignited the rally.

The Irish though pulled even one last time at 8-8 by scoring twice in the top of the sixth on an error.

That set the stage for the Tigers decisive tally in the home half of the sixth off the bat of Hess.

Noah Heinsler and Flynn both had a pair of hits on the day for the Tigers as did Cocking for the Irish.

Johnson pitched the first three innings striking out 9 and allowing 1 hit.  He then came back on to hurl the final inning and two-thirds with 3 more strikeouts and no hits.

Lyndonville next visits Oakfield-Alabama on Thursday.

In other G-R action, Oakfield-Alabama defeated Kendall 12-2 and Byron-Bergen downed Holley 8-3.

Softball

Oakfield-Alabama blanked Holley 11-0 and Notre Dame downed Kendall 24-9 in G-R softball action.

In a Niagara-Orleans League game, Wilson downed Barker 14-10.