By Paul Gotham
WEBSTER — A pair Western Division rivals met Thursday night looking for their first win. One was opening the season. The other sought to end a skid.
Anthony Galan (Brown) tossed eight complete for his first victory of the season as the Wellsville Nitros finished on the good side for the first time in four attempts defeating the Athletes in Action 7-3 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Basket Road Field.
Galan struck out four while surrendering five hits and three runs (two earned).
“He really came to battle today,” Wellsville coach Frank Jagoda said of his starter. “He knew that he needed to come out and extend a little bit. He only got through the fifth in his first start. We wanted to get him at least through the seventh. His pitch count was down until the eighth. It was an outstanding performance from Anthony.”
After allowing a run in the second, Galan held AIA scoreless for the next five including retiring six straight batters between the fourth and sixth.
“I felt comfortable in there,” Galan said. “I threw probably eighty-five percent sinkers. Just trying to throw it down in the zone. I have a good defense. Pitch to contact.”
Wellsville jumped to a three-run lead in the second.
Pete Strommen (Eastern Illinois U.) plated three with a one-out double over the head of the right fielder.
“He bats down in the order,” Jagoda said of Strommen. “They were playing aggressively defensively, and Pete had a great at bat with two strikes. He finally got a pitch out over the plate, and he cleared the bases for us.”
Chris May (Florida International U.) and Nick Fornaca (Brown) led the inning with a pair of infield hits off AIA starter Zachary Hedges (Azusa Pacific U.). Hedges appeared to end the threat when he induced a ground ball from Michael Fries (Butler), but the ball was mishandled, and the Nitros loaded the bases for Strommen.
Wellsville added a run in the third.
Riley Goulding (Texas Pan American) reached when he beat a ball into the dirt in front of home plate. After advancing with a stolen base and a wild pitch, Goulding came home on an RBI single by Chris May (Florida International).
“I’m happy for the guys,” Jagoda continued. “They stuck with it the first week or so. It hasn’t been an easy start. It feels good to get the first one.”
The Nitros added single runs in the fourth, sixth and eighth.
AIA made it a 3-1 game in the bottom of the second. AJ Crosby (Edward Waters) was hit by a pitch to lead the frame. One out later, Josh Davis (Whitworth) drilled a double down the left field line to put runners on second and third. Crosby came home on a ground ball by Joel Belk (Azusa Pacific).
A pair of Wellsville errors led to two AIA runs in the eighth.
Brandon Terry (St. Leo) worked the ninth for the Nitros.
Wellsville opened the season with a rain-shortened loss to Hornell. The next night the Nitros lost to Niagara on a walkoff home run in the 13th inning.
The Nitros (1-3) return home to host the undefeated Hornell Dodgers. First pitch Friday night is scheduled for 5 p.m.
After a night AIA (0-1) hosts the Niagara Power Saturday night at The Basket. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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