By Doug Smith
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — North Tonawandan Jess Puscheck will join six members of the Niagara Power in the New York State Collegiate League All-Star Game Wednesday at Sal Maglie Stadium.
Puscheck has been hitting .328 – with 13 bases on balls pushing his on-base percentage to the rarified air of .447 – for the Geneva Red Wings of the league’s Eastern Division.
Because the league scrapped inter-division play as an economy move for 2012, this will be Puscheck’s only NYCBL venture into his home county, where he dominated headlines for four years before moving on to Canisius College. While adept at several positions, Puscheck has played largely at third base for the Red Wings.
Power All-Stars number :
First-baseman Chane Lynch (pronounced “Shane,” as in cowboy or disc jockey), hitting .358 including game-busting three-RBI in each game of the Power’s last homestand, as well a lobster-claw grab of a ground ball to help save Friday’s 6-5 victory over the Geneva Twins;
Outfielder Adam Taylor, batting .352 with an arm that changes complexions of games. Few risk advancing after Taylor threw out two base-runners at third early in the season;
Outfielder Shakeel Newton, batting .347, with a resume that includes scoring from second on a squeeze bunt at Olean;
Pitcher Scott Voyles, with 14 strikeouts and two walks, who posted one-inning, one-run saves in each of the Power’s last two home games;
Pitcher Steve Beckham, now 2-2 with a 2.46 ERA including an impressive, inning-eating outing vs. Rochester in Sal Maglie Stadium Thursday;
Pitcher Frank Grandinette, relatively new to the team, but whose 1.29 ERA and Division I credentials has earned him a place before what is expected to be a squadron of major-league scouts.
Hornell’s Tony Fuller will coach the Western Division stars assisted by, among others, Power Manager Garrett Shively.
Game time is 7 p.m., following an introductory noon luncheon at the Como Restaurant and an afternoon of skills presentations for scouts at Sal Maglie. Standard admission prices prevail for the game and season tickets will be honored in full for seating.
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