By ANTHONY SAMBROTTO
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Wednesday’s game was going to be especially sweet for Olean Oilers’ pitcher Andrew White, regardless of the outcome.
The result did make White and the rest of the Oilers happy, however, as they were able to beat the Niagara Power 4-1 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Sal Maglie Stadium.
The game meant so much for White (University at Buffalo) because Wednesday was his first start since suffering a broken finger during his senior year of high school.
The right-hander had appeared in two other games this year in limited relief work, but tonight was a big step for him.
“I’m back in full gear, it was just a matter of working the rust off,” White said. “The first couple innings were rough but I could feel the rust coming off the more I threw.”
White only gave up one run, which came in the bottom of the fifth when Jordan Hayes (Olivet Nazare University) grounded out to the second baseman and brought home a run.
For Hayes, it was his team-leading ninth RBI of the season. He is one of only three Power players to have more than four on the year.
White finished with six innings pitched, three hits, four walks and two strikeouts. White’s only complaint about his first start back was his command, which he says will improve.
On the bump for Niagara was Dallas Deavers (University of North Georgia). Olean was able to muster some offense against Deavers, something that has been difficult for teams to do off Power pitchers of late.
Olean opened up the scoring in the top of the fourth with a single off the bat of first baseman Aaron Phillips. Olean waited four batters to tack on more runs in the inning, and with the bases loaded Dan Pellinen (Friends University) singled home two runs to make it 3-0 Oilers.
Deavers settled down after the fourth and didn’t allow another hit until the seventh inning when Cole Peterson (St. Bonaventure University) added another insurance run with an RBI base hit to score Pellinen.
Deavers was done after that inning pitching seven innings, giving up seven hits and four earned runs while striking out seven Oilers.
Both bullpens pitched great for their respective teams, with no runs coming across in the 8th or 9th innings. For the Power, the duo of Nathaniel Lagos (North Greenville University) and B.J. Greathouse (Summit University) allowed only one hit over the final two innings.
Olean relied on just one pitcher over the final three innings, and he completely shut down the Power. Nathan Grant (St. Bonaventure University) did not allow a hit and only allowed one Power batter to even reach base over the final three frames.
Grant also picked up his first save of the season for the Oilers.
For White, he was quick to point out the play of his teammates as the major reason behind the victory.
“I have never played for a team with as good of defense as these guys. They were really solid, ” White said. “I have a lot of trust in them so I just try to throw it over the plate and I know somebody behind me will back me up.”
While the Oilers committed five errors in Tuesday’s contest with the Power, they rebounded in a big way Wednesday for White and had a clean game and did not have a single error.
David “Bubba” Hollins (St. Petersburg College) had two hits in the game for the Oilers raising his average to .333 on the season.
Ethan Hurt (Trevecca University) picked up another stolen base for the Power, bringing his team leading total up to 6.
The Power (9-5) look to rebound Thursday at Wellsville. First pitch is at 5 p.m. The Oilers (7-6) get the day off tomorrow before returning home to play at Bradner Stadium, Friday. A 7 p.m. start against the Rochester Ridgemen is scheduled.
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