Courtesy of the Niagara Gazette
By Doug Smith
NIAGARA FALLS — As Wallenda walked the wire, the Power strung out the ropes on Friday night, entangling the Hornell Dodgers in a snare of line drives for a 13-6 victory before nearly 400 celebrants at Sal Maglie Stadium.
For the second consecutive night, the Power(4-3) knocked off the first-place team in the New York Collegiate League’s Western Division, lashing 16 hits. Fifteen of the first 23 Power batters reached base safely – and two others sacrificed.
Pitcher Jonathan Knapp rebounded after Matt Calhoun’s two-run first-inning homer, giving up one earned run in just under six innings. Untypically, the Power committed seven errors, right down to a dropped foul fly with an out remaining.
Chane Lynch and Adam Taylor had three hits apiece, P. J. Worthen drilled his second triple in two nights and sixth-inning pinch-hitter Frank Polino lobbed a two-out, three-RBI double.
Down 3-1 going into home second, Niagara drew even on Neil DiCook’s two-RBI single, also with two out. After Nick Linne singled home DiCook, who slid in just under a tag, Taylor hustled out base hit on a grounder to first, and manager Garrett “Send-em-home” Shively waved in Linne, scoring from second on a ball hit less than 80 feet.
While Power fielders coughed up some rocks, left-fielder Linne polished the night’s fielding gem. After Hornell loaded the bases in the eighth, Linne let a flare fall in front of him, seized it and forced the runner from third at the plate.
When the Power knocked Olean out of first place, 7-6, Thursday night, Hornell ascended with a 6-2 record. The two teams resume this rivalry in a double-header this afternoon at 4.
POWER POINTS: Grace Kulikowski lit up the sky with her National Anthem… Players are still arriving; Shively sent new arrival Ryan Riesel in to run in the sixth and he promptly stole second, the Bolts’ fifth stolen base of the night… The public-address announcer also broadcast the game over the Internet, which may be a league “first”… The crowd came magically hungry; they made the night’s supply of pizza disappear in less than an inning.
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