By ANTHONY SAMBROTTO
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — In two low-scoring affairs on Friday, the balance of power in the NYCBL’s Western Division shifted.
The Hornell Dodgers defeated the Niagara Power 3-1 in both games of a doubleheader in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Sal Maglie Stadium.
Coming into Friday’s games, the Power held a half game lead over the Dodgers in the standings and were looking to increase it.
In game one, they sent out their ace, Brandon Mumaw (St. Leo University). He entered the game 5-0 and did not disappoint in the first game.
Mumaw’s counterpart, Conner Ryan (Mercyhurst) was up to the task as well as the game remained scoreless through five.
In the top of the sixth, the Dodgers got on the board with a ground out and it looked like it would be enough to secure the victory.
However, as the Power have shown many times this season they are a resilient team, and with two outs in the bottom of the ninth A.J. Bruner(Trinity International University) hit a single over the second baseman’s head to tie the game at one.
Mumaw came out to pitch the 10th inning for the Power, but the Dodgers were finally able to get to him. Back-t0-back RBI-doubles from Tommmy LaCongo (St. Bonaventure) and Garrett Prossner (Baylor) put the Dodgers up for good.
Despite loading the bases in the bottom of the 10th and a chance for another rally, Michael Jordan (Vanguard) was able to shut the door for the Dodgers. Jordan pitched the final three innings for Hornell giving up one run on four hits and picking up his second win of the season.
For Mumaw, it was his first loss of the season, despite going 10 innings, and alllowing three runs on eight hits and striking out eight batters.
“Mumaw is a bulldog,” Power manager Josh Rebandt said. “He quietly gets the job done and dominates out there. For a guy that is willing to go out there for the 10th inning, that shows a lot about a guy’s will to win.”
Game two was seven innings long, and featured some more stellar pitching.
Power starter Zach Monell (Niagara University) made his first start of the season in game two and was roughed up early. The Dodgers pushed across two runs in the first inning, with the big hit coming by way of an RBI-triple from Jimmy Latona (Mercyhurst).
The Power got a run back in the bottom of the second after Caleb Lang (Cairn University) picked up his NYCBL-leading 26th RBI of the season to cut the score to 2-1.
Lang attributes his success this season to his experience in the league.
“It’s really just learning from your previous at-bats and years and just applying it,” Lang said. “I played in this league last year and I’ve seen some of these guys and once you know what a pitcher has it becomes easier.”
Unfortunately for the Power, that would be the only run they got against Hornell starter C.J. Lee (Webster). After the third inning, Lee got back into his grove and threw a complete game allowing only two hits and striking out eight. Lee has been the ace for Hornell all season and is now 5-2 with a 0.96 ERA.
After the Dodgers added a run in the top of the fourth, Nathaniel Lagos (North Greenville University) prevented any Hornell damage in the later innings as he pitched four innings of shutout relief for Niagara.
Although Monell picked up the loss for the Power, the Niagara Falls native was still happy with how his first start went.
“First inning it was all nerves, but after I got the three outs I changed my windup to go stretch to make myself more comfortable and I just calmed myself down.”
Rebandt had promised Monell a spot start over the last week, and Monell will now head back to the bullpen, but is still cherishing his time with this team.
“These aren’t just teammates, they are my brothers,”Monell said. “I am blessed to have them in my life forever now; it’s a great bunch of guys and I’m so glad to be here with them.”
With the conclusion of game two, the Dodgers now sit a game and a half up on the Power in the Western Division. Hornell took three of four from the Power this weekend and after a slow start the defending champions are right where they want to be.
“Four battles,” Hornell manager Tom Kenney said. “Heavyweight battles. Somebody gets the lead, somebody comes back, games are going into extra innings and guys are making big plays. Two games going to extras and I just said to Josh (Power manager) that these are games that nobody wants to lose. A lot of fun to play those type of games.”
The Power next travel to Rochester to play the Ridgemen at 5p.m on Sunday while the Dodgers return home to face the Wellsville Nitros at 7p.m. Sunday at Maple City Park.
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