Oilers pick up second straight win

By RYAN McDONOUGH

OLEAN, N.Y. – For the second consecutive game, the Olean Oilers led wire-to-wire and put up a crooked number.

Olean scored runs in innings one through four as they went on to defeat the Wellsville Nitros, 7-3, in a New York College Baseball League game on June 14 at Bradner Stadium.

Olean did it behind Adam Rigney (Nichols), who made his first start of the season.

“We originally had him throwing 60 or 65 pitches, but he had great control,“ said Olean coach Bobby Bell of his starter. “He did a good job of keeping the ball down and getting guys out. He did a good job today.”

Rigney went five innings, allowing one earned run while striking out four of the 25 batters he faced.

Olean hit the ground running offensively, as leadoff hitter Cole Peterson (St. Bonaventure) made his way around to put the Oilers up, 1-0.

Peterson wasn’t finished.

At bat again in the second inning with runners on second and third, Peterson delivered a base knock to score both, putting his Oilers up 3-0.

“We’ve been feeling pretty good,” said Peterson, the Oilers’ shortstop who was responsible for the first three Olean runs of the day. “We’re getting runners on, and we leave a few guys on here and there, but for the most part, we’ve been driving everyone in and capitalizing on what we can.”

Wellsville put themselves on the board in the top of the third as Bruce Strickland (Felician) drove home a run with a single and Ryan Bonafade (Hilbert) sent home another with an infield single.

Olean matched that in the next half frame – and then some.

Three straight Olean walks loaded the bases, and Brandon Savage (Marymount) worked himself a walk to bring Isaac Dillard (Gulf Coast CC) home. In his first game since joining the team mid-season, Eddie Edwards III (Buffalo) came up with an RBI single. The next batter, Brock Blovsky (Pitt Brad), was hit by a pitch to bring home Jon Lapolla (Suffolk).

“I just tried to see fastballs, put good contact on the ball and don’t try to do too much,” said Edwards, who played in his first game since suffering an injury in April.

Edwards finished the day with three hits, driving in one and scoring one of his own.

“It’s definitely a confidence booster having three hits,” Edwards added. “I still have to work on some things, but it’s definitely a good way to start off my summer season.”

Matt Kamenicky (Clarion) drove home Dillard in the fourth to give Olean a 7-2 lead.

That would be more than enough for Rigney, who hurled a 1-2-3 fifth inning and handed the ball to Joe Nicolace (Nichols), who pitched through the eighth inning and allowed just two hits.

Coach Bell turned to his sinker ball-throwing closer, Kaden Darrow (Marymount) in the ninth inning to complete their two-game winning streak. Darrow got the job done, throwing just 13 pitches and striking out a Nitro in the process.

While they nearly matched last night’s 10 spot, Olean managed to score seven runs without a single extra-base hit.

The Oilers stole six bases, Peterson with two and Dillard doubled his season total with four swiped bags this afternoon.

“We do have a fast team, so bunts and stolen bases are going to be part of our game,” said Bell. “Anytime we are able to do that well, we’ll be pretty successful.”

Olean also successfully completed two sacrifice bunts and drew 10 walks. Savage drew four walks.

“We’re having a little bit more fun as things get going. It helps when you win a couple games in a row,” said Bell of his team’s chemistry. “But it’s a good group of guys that are definitely getting along and it’s going to be a fun team, no mater how the summer turns out.”

Olean will stay home and take on the Niagara Power Monday, June 15 at Bradner Stadium. Wellsville will hit the road and take on the Rochester Ridgemen at Basket Road Field. First pitch for both games is set for 7:00 P.M.

Two Oilers were hit by pitches.

Five Oilers recorded RBI, including hitters six through nine in the order.

Olean native and member of the 2014 Oilers Pat Scholla (John Carroll) went 3-4 on his old home field for the Nitros.