Lewis helps Niagara end skid

By Taylor Nigrelli

NIAGARA FALLS, NY — The Niagara Power (8-9) held off the rain while Hunter Lewis (Hampden-Sydney) held off a slew of base runners in a 5-2 win over the Olean Oilers (11-6) in New York Collegiate Baseball League action Thursday night at Sal Maglie Stadium.

Lewis went seven and two-thirds innings, striking out three and allowing two runs. The Newport, Va. native, who started the year as an infielder, is now 3-0 on the season with a 1.62 ERA and a nine-to-one strikeout to walk ratio. Niagara Head Coach Josh Rebandt is impressed with what he has seen from Lewis so far this season.

“He’s done a great job,” Rebandt said. “He’s a guy who gets stronger as the game goes on. He had a bit of a rough start but towards those later innings, all you see is zeros. He’s starting to establish his fastball. Now that he’s established it, his off-speed is even better.

“I’m very impressed with (Lewis). He’s also one of our three most reliable guys in the middle. He’s starting once or twice a week plus doing that relief. He’s been incredibly valuable to us as a pitcher and I want him to continue that throughout the summer.”

The Power seemed to be headed for a fourth consecutive loss early in the game. They trailed 2-1 in the top of the third and the Oilers had two runners on with one out. Lewis escaped the jam and the Niagara offense proceeded to score a single run in each of the next four innings. Rebandt views Lewis escaping the jam as the game’s turning point.

“Absolutely the turning point,” Rebandt said. “One thing I talk to the guys about is having shut-down innings. Then we come out and score right after, that’s huge.”

The offensive charge in the third through sixth was led by right fielder Bobby Twitty (St. Leo’s). Twitty reached base four times with three hits including a triple.

The two and three spots in the lineup weren’t quite as productive. Catcher Ben Pickard (Delta St.) and left fielder Scott Gillespie (Covenant) combined to go 0-10. Rebandt chalked up the performance to nothing more than a bad night for both players.

“Every guy is going to have a bad day,” Rebandt said. “I think it was just one of those days for both Gillespie and Pickard. They’ve both been hitting the ball hard. You know it’s going to happen eventually; it’s baseball. Yeah, you’d like to see better production tonight but this is going to happen.”

Lewis pitched scoreless innings in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh and was pulled without allowing a run in the eighth. He was replaced by Sam Whim (Mid-America Nazarene) who pitched a scoreless third of an inning before Travis Laitar (Cortland) came in for a scoreless ninth. Laitar picked up his second save of the season and furthered his case as one of Rebandt’s most trusted late-inning pitchers.

“He’s been our go-to guy so far in the ninth,”Rebandt said. “He’s given himself an opportunity. We sometimes talk about create opportunities for ourselves and that’s what he’s done.”

The next game action for the Power will come against the Wellsville Nitros (10-6) Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Sal Maglie Stadium.