BY AUSTIN SPEAKER
WELLSVILLE, N.Y. — It’s safe to say that the more runners a team puts in scoring position, the more likely it is to have a positive outcome.
The Genesee Rapids followed that plan Wednesday night in their 6-2 victory over the Wellsville Nitros in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Wellsville Central Schools.
The Rapids stayed hot putting up six runs for the second night in a row. It’s not so much through power, though, as it was fundamentals.
“If you’re able to get runners on, especially the top of the order, you have options,” said Genesee manager Tyler Rost. “Whether it’s a stolen base or a sac bunt, and we had a couple sac flies tonight, it helps balance our offense and put runs on the board.”
Tommy Haas (Arkansas Pine Bluff) and Jake Shelby (Hesston Col.) drove in an RBI each, both resulting from sacrifice flyouts.
Haas plated Joey Chapman (Cedarville) with a sacrifice fly for Genesee’s first run of the game in the third inning as the Rapids scored a run in four of the next five innings. Shelby’s came as an insurance run in the ninth inning when he brought home Tyler Minogue (Bellarmine).
Nick Ippolito led the Rapids with three hits in six trips to the plate, which as stated by Rost, the top of the order sets the table for the offense, and can put pressure on the pitcher. Success can also be determined by the contributions from the bottom of the order, as the 6-7-8 hitters for Genesee were able to record a hit and combined to score four runs while driving in two.
Haas finished 2-for-4 at the dish while Austin Hauck (Sienna Heights) also recorded two hits in four at bats.
“It helps the team’s confidence when you’re able to capitalize on your opponent’s mistakes,” added Rost. The Rapids came around to score two unearned runs due to three miscues from the Nitros defense.
The other four earned runs, though, were plenty as Jordan Wilkerson (East Texas Baptist) hurled six solid innings giving up two runs on four hits while fanning five.
“Coming off his previous nine-inning performance against Olean,” Rost added. “I had all the confidence in the world that Jordan would put us in a good position to win the ball game.”
Wilkerson needed just 69 pitches to record his quality start, and settled down very nicely as he wasn’t threatened at all after the first inning when the leadoff hitter for Wellsville, Kenneth Collins (Hamilton Col.), reached second, was sacrificed to third and driven home on a double by Bruce Strickland (Felician Col.).
“We faced a great pitcher today in Wilkerson,” Nitros manager Jake Bannerman commented about the Texas right-hander. “Our offense has been struggling to put up more than two runs lately, but today was a step in the right direction.”
Four of the starting five reached base, as Wellsville was led by Donny Killian (Buffalo) who recorded two hits in three trips including an RBI double in the seventh inning.
“It’s hard to win ball games when runs are scarce, no matter how good your pitching is. And when you’re playing a good team like Genesee, they’ll make you pay.”
Genesee improved to 6-3 on the season and look to sweep the Wellsville Nitros (3-7) in their three-day set tomorrow in a 10:00 a.m. game at Kerr-Pegula Athletics Complex.
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