By PAUL GOTHAM
OLEAN, N.Y. — More than one thousand students from Olean Central School District filled Bradner Stadium on Thursday morning looking to cheer on the home team.
Genesee’s Rapids crashed the party.
Corey Andrade (Anna Maria) highlighted a seven-run second, and the Rapids never looked back en route to a 9-2 victory over the Olean Oilers in New York Collegiate Baseball League action.
Andrade delivered a two-out, three-run double in the gap to spark the Rapids.
“I got in a situation where I was pretty sure I was going to get a fastball,” the Genesee first baseman said. “I was sitting dead red fastball. God willing I made solid contact. Stroked the ball to where it was pitched. Hit to the opposite field and you know got on my horse and got running.”
Andrade plated teammates Brett Morgan, Dan Crozier (Cazenovia) and Brandon Dupuis (Rochester College) on the play.
“That was kind of the big blow that gave us momentum,” Genesee manager Tyler Rost said.
It was Andrade on opening day who sparked a three-run ninth with a home run as Genesee came from behind to beat Wellsville, 4-2.
“He’s been swinging the bat well,” Rost added. “He’s a good hitter.”
On Sunday, the Rapids didn’t get a runner past second until the ninth in a 9-0 loss to the Nitros. The Rapids followed that with a 7-2 setback versus Olean. But the Rapids have outscored the Oilers 17-3 over the last two days.
“Guys are starting to get a little more comfortable at the plate,” Rost stated. “The offense has looked good the past two days.”
Nick Watkins (Defiance) made good on the offensive production. The right-hander went seven innings for the win.
“He commanded three pitches in the strike zone and he was able to keep guys off balance,” Rost noted. “He did a phenomenal job today.”
Watkins allowed one run on three hits, three walks and one strike out. He allowed one extra-base hit on the day.
“A lot of off speed stuff,” Watkins said when asked what was working. “Throwing my curve ball for a strike. Getting ahead. Change-up worked real well today late in counts like one and two.”
The Lima, OH native surrendered just one hit in the last three innings and did not allow a runner past second.
“It was just big getting ahead on off speed pitches,” Watkins explained. “Just trying to keep getting ahead was important to me. Falling behind late in counts can explode into big innings sometimes.”
“What he did today was pretty impressive,” Rost said.
After opening the season with two wins in their first three games, the Oilers have dropped below .500 at 2-3.
“Those guys swing the bat pretty well,” Rost said. “Last night and the past three games when we make mistakes, they would make us pay for it.”
Edward Monthie (Houghton) pitched the eighth and ninth for Genesee. The right-hander gave up one unearned run on one hit.
Joe Nicolace (Nichols) hurled four shutout innings in relief for Olean. The southpaw allowed one hit, fanned seven and walked none.
Morgan collected two hits in five trips and scored twice for Genesee.
Crozier also crossed the plate twice.
Austin Hauck (Siena Heights) went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
The Rapids improved to 3-2 on the young season. Genesee gets a day off before traveling to Hornell on Saturday for a 7 pm start.
Olean hosts the Wellsville Nitros for a 7 pm start on Friday.
Leave a Reply