By Paul Gotham
WEBSTER — Joel Belk (Azusa Pacific) led a quartet of arms, and a pesky offense proved the difference as the Rochester Athletes in Action defeated the Niagara Power 6-3 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Basket Road Field, Saturday night.
Belk scattered three hits and allowed one run over five innings for the win.
“Belk was blowing up bats,” said Rochester head coach Taylor Hargrove. “He gave us what we needed.”
The right-hander struck out six and walked two. His only mistake came when he hung a pitch over the plate to the league’s hottest hitter.
“The first time through the lineup I was going with just fast balls,” Belk said. “Luckily I was able to get the ground balls I needed, and the defense was able to make plays.”
The native of Rancho Cucamonga, California changed his approached from there.
“Just mixing it up, so they don’t know what’s coming. Mixing in curve balls, sliders and change ups. We did it as a team.”
Patrick Woemer (Illinois Springfield) hurled two shutout innings in relief, and Dominic Porretta (Otterbein) closed the door with a perfect ninth.
“I’m really proud of the effort by our pitching staff,” Hargrove added.
Rochester put three on the scoreboard in what proved to be a decisive fourth inning.
AJ Crosby (Edward Waters) drove home two with a double into the gap in right center field. After a wild pitch, Crosby by scored on a ground ball to the right side of the infield by Josh Davis (Whitworth).
AIA took advantage of two Niagara errors to score a pair of runs in the fifth. Jordan Doherty (Mt. Vernon Nazarene) worked a one-out base on balls. Kolbe Andrade (St. Petersburg) followed with a single. After a strike out, Niagara appeared to have ended the threat with a come backer, but the throw to first sailed wide. Doherty came around to score, and Andrade stood at third. Another ground ball and another Power error gave Rochester a 6-1 advantage.
Niagara eventually brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth. Neil DeCook (Kankakee CC) led with a walk. After a passed ball, Adam Taylor (North Greenville) drilled a two-out single through the right side of the infield bringing home DeCook. Taylor moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a base hit to right center by Seth Eller (Mt. Vernon Nazarene). Eller stole second, and Chane Lynch (Hill JC) walked, but the Power could not get any closer.
Taylor led all batters with three hits. The 2011 NYCBL All-Star scored twice and walked once. He is hitting .500 on the young season with two home runs and four RBI in twelve trips to the plate. Taylor tripled and scored to give Niagara a 1-0 lead in the second.
Rochester’s Davis Patrick (N. Georgia College and State U.) allowed two earned runs in one inning of relief.
Brandon Mumaw (St. Leo) tossed two innings of shutout in relief for the Power. Scott Voyes (Greenville) added a scoreless frame for Niagara.
Frank Dreslinski (Rend Lake College) paced the AIA with two hits. The native of Milford, Michigan dragged a bunt down the third base line to lead the third. After a stolen base, Dreslinski moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Garrett Gooding (Point Loma Nazarene) and scored when Jonathan Burkhardt (East Texas Baptist) dropped a suicide squeeze.
“It’s a wood bat league,” Hargrove explained. “You have to use small ball. We executed well.”
Rochester (1-1) hosts Geneva Twins (3-2) on Sunday. First pitch at The Basket is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Niagara(1-2) gets a day off before traveling to Hornell(3-2) on Monday for 7 p.m. start at Maple City Park.
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