After the Power melted down 16-4 at Geneva last Monday, a sweep of a four-game home series seemed inconceivable. But neither gas-line leak nor bizarre base-running could break the Bolts, who headed to Olean Sunday in second place.
Two plays defined the Wellsville series. In Saturday’s first game, after a key error at short opened the doors, the visiting Nitros seemed powerless to shut it, seven unearned runs crossing, three on a misjudged fly ball.
Later, the Power shortstop Ivan Acuna committed a crucial error, but when the ball came his way again moments later, he played it perfectly. Power manager Josh Rebandt hails his club’s passion for redemption and mutual aid (not including the firemen and utility officials who shushed the gas league that put Saturday’s nightcap on “pause” for an hour). Some weekend numbers:
9 + 8 + 8 = 25 – In order, hits by Wellsville in three-game series.
2 + 4 + 7 = 13 – In order, hits by Niagara in the same series.
1-0, 8-3, 8-1 – In order, scores by which Niagara won all three games. Pressboxers were noting, as the nightcap’s final inning began, that Niagara was in “bad shape” because it was out-hitting the visitors 7-5. Wellsville came up with three runless hits, then, the last when a batted ball hit a base-runner, which by the game’s archaic rules goes as base hit.
25 – Official at-bats for the Power in defeating Wellsville 1-0.
27 – Official at-bats a team would record in losing a perfect game.
13 – Number of Nitros who batted with runners in scoring position during Friday’s 1-0 loss to the Power. Actually, Wellsville was 1-for-12 RISP; one sacrificed a runner to third and another’s single was hit too hard to score a runner from second.
2 – Number of pitches Genesee reliever Jordan White needed to retire the Power with no outs, the bases loaded and the middle of the order coming up in Thursday’s fifth. The Power failed in a steal of home and, with runners on first and third, the batter hit into a 4-6-3 double play on a ball that would have driven home two runs with the infield in. With two pitches, White got credit for a full inning, along with an assist.
9 – Number of throws, approximately, in a bizarre Thursday play in which two Power runners escaped simultaneous rundowns between second, third and home.
0 FOR 26 – What Genesee hitters two through nine went in losing 7-2 Thursday night.
1:57 – Time of Friday night’s nine-inning game. Collegiate League games run outpace their professional peers because the pitchers work, batters swing and inning breaks are monitored.
269 – Thursday’s attendance.
270 – Friday’s attendance.
2,000 – How almost any other team would calculate those numbers; Also, decibel range of cheers when National Fuel showed up to fix Saturday’s mischievous leak, loudest cheer in baseball history for a man with a wrench.
Signal back to Base Paths via pollyndoug@hotmail.com
Leave a Reply