By Doug Smith
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — The second skirmish of the “Holy War” morphed into a battle of attrition Friday night at Sal Maglie Stadium.
Some infielders pitched, others caught ground balls with their faces and seven runs was one more than the Power could overcome in a 9-8 setback at the hands of the fellow faith-based Rochester Athletes. The Athletes have just four victories this New York Collegiate League season, two over Niagara.
Seven runs in the first three innings seemed to cinch this for the visitors, and although the Power steadied with infielders Tyler Schweigert and Alex Lagos taking the mound for consecutive no-earned-run innings, Niagara still trailed 9-5 at the ninth began, the leadoff batter whiffing.
Then the top of the order – Neil DiCook, Seth Eller and Adam Taylor, all hitless – connected consecutively and then Frank Polino ripped a two-run single to right, cutting it to 9-8. Nick Linni, who’d entered the game late and then was moved around defensively like a chess knight, took one for the team, the potential winning run on base.
Rochester sent its catcher, Zac Goodno, to the mound to face Ryan Kiesel, who lofted a fly ball to center where Jonathan Burkhart lurched a couple of times, then seized it like the Holy Grail. The Power slipped to 6-6, two losses in a row.
Up ‘til then, the game had stood upside down, with the bottom of the order going 5-6 at one point, while the top three were 0-for-12.
His mound corps deeply depleted – 16 pitching changes since Bo Lucas’ shoulder seized up after one batter at Olean Monday – manager Garrett Shively asked for a little something more from left-side infielders Schweigert and Lagos. A wild throw cost Schweigert an unearned run in the seventh and Lagos would have had a 1-2-3 eighth except for a wicked bounce at third that knocked Schweigert – back at this position – out of the game.
Shively expects Schweigert to return for tonight’s 7 p.m. matchup with Olean, listed on the schedule as Warriors of the Sword night. Body armor is recommended.
POWER POINTS: Both Schweigert and Lagos showed their infielding chops on the mound, Schweigert on a long throw to turn a sacrifice into a force-out and Lagos stopping Nick Flanagan’s laser threw the box… Malachi Melton helped Schweigert’s mound turn with a highlight real stop at third… Power Pup suited up for a skit honoring First Responders, then hung around for pawshakes and autographs… After the “war” was over, both teams stayed on the field chatting and swapping stories.
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