Courtesy of the Niagara Gazette
By Jason Patterson
St. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. — In a season where nothing has come easy, The Niagara Power’s post-season fate was fittingly not decided until the very last regular season pitch. The Power held on to defeat division rival Olean 8-7 in a playoff primer Wednesday night. With the victory, Niagara secured second place in the West and home field advantage for the first round of the New York Collegiate Baseball League Playoffs.
The game saw Niagara build a 7-1 lead in the middle innings, before pushing an eighth and final run across in the top of 7th inning. It proved to be the game winner. Power head coach Garet Shivley used nine pitchers, while his offense used the same number of hits to secure the win. Every spot in the Niagara order again contributed to another trademark “team win.”
It became clear very early that the return of Shakeel Newton to the lineup created a positive spark for the club. He would score the Power’s first run in the game’s opening inning. Newton, who had been away from the team due to a death in the family, ended the day two-for-three with three RBI and two runs scored.
After the Oilers pulled close in the late innings, there were tense moments for Power bullpen. The relief crew saw the tying and go-ahead runs come to the plate in each of the final three innings. In typical Power fashion they were each able to do just enough to survive.
In the end it came down to a battle between Niagara’s hard throwing closer Scott Voyles and the heart of an explosive Olean order. After retiring the NYCBL’s triple crown candidate and Homerun Derby champion Jon Kemmer on a groundout, Voyles struck out Power nemesis Brad Rush looking. When the dust settled, a ground ball to third base off the bat of pinch-hitter Michael Booth preserved the victory.
The marquee win was yet another snapshot in the photo album of historic moments for the franchise this summer. A Power team which hosted the League’s All-Star Game and secured the first home playoff game in its history, also reeled off a team record nine straight wins across the last two weeks. The Boys in Blue finished a most memorable 2012 campaign by winning 12 of their final 14 games, including a 11-1 mark after the break.
With the arrival of the playoffs, the chance to make a lasting mark in league history is right around the corner. Thanks to Wednesday’s defeat of Olean, that final leg of the journey will begin at the Barber Shop.
The Power open the playoffs Friday night at Sal Maglie Stadium. These same two teams will square off for the ninth time this summer. The Opening Pitch of the 2012 post-season is scheduled for 7pm.
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