By PAUL GOTHAM
GENEVA, N.Y. — On Saturday, the Olean Oilers reached a franchise high for regular-season victories. Sunday, the Oilers moved within one win of taking the organization’s first playoff series.
Austin Bizzle (Alabama St.) scattered nine hits over eight innings as Olean defeated the Geneva Twins, 3-1 in game one of the New York Collegiate Baseball League Western Divisional Series at McDonough Park.
Bizzle struck out a dozen and walked one for Olean’s first post-season victory since 2013.
“I went out there and just competed, challenged them,” the right-hander said. “Painted the corners a lot, worked on my off speed. Had a good defense behind me and timely hitting.”
For Olean manager Bobby Bell, the performance reminded him of Bizzle’s opening day outing when the Lynn Haven, Florida native delivered on a promise.
“Just like the first game of the year. He said ‘I want the ball game and I won’t let you down.’ And he didn’t. He came out and went after it.”
Olean’s starter, though, exceeded even his own expectations. After pitching seven innings in a must-win game last Wednesday, Bizzle thought he would have a shorter outing to open the playoffs.
“I thought I was going to have five innings in me because I was on three day’s rest. Tried to no throw too many pitches.”
Bell trusted his starter’s battery mate when it came time to make a decision. Bizzle allowed a leadoff single to Marty Napleton (St. Joseph’s Coll) in the eighth, and the Oiler skipper wanted to make a move to the bullpen.
“I came to get him but (Olean catcher) Mike Fahrman (Florida) looked at me and said no,” Bell explained. “Fahrman looked at me and said no, twice. I couldn’t ask for more out of him.”
Bizzle fanned the next two batters and allowed another single before retiring the side on a ground ball.
Olean capitalized on two of Geneva’s five errors to take the lead in the eighth. With the score knotted at one, Edwin Edwards III (State University of New York at Buffalo) reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Sam Kysor (USC-Upstate) dropped a bunt to the third base side of the mound. Geneva starter Mitchell Powers (So. New Hampshire) bounded off the hill, fielded the ball but slipped on the slick grass. Edwards came around to score when the throw sailed into foul territory.
“We hurt ourselves,” Geneva manager Andy Weeks said. “We beat ourselves. When you make five errors, it’s not going to help you win a baseball game.”
David “Bubba” Hollins added to the lead with a base hit to left center over a drawn infield.
“I jumped for joy off the bench,” Bizzle said. “I knew it was over then when we got the go-ahead run.”
Hollins, who had struck out in an earlier at bat, gained redemption with the hit.
“You’re looking to hit the ball hard in that situation get something through them or in the air. Get a sac fly or something,” Hollins said. “He threw me a slider that hung up there for a little while. I was actually looking for a fastball up in the zone, though. Just kept my hands back and got lucky.”
Nathan Grant (St. Bonaventure) worked a scoreless ninth for the save. After allowing a leadoff single to Austin Kearney (Carson-Newman), Grant induced a ground ball for a double play and ended the game on a routine fly ball to right field.
“We were down a little bit energy-wise early in the game,” Bell noted. “Once we started picking up our energy I knew we were going to be all right.
“It’s crazy, early in the year I might have worried a little bit, but actually we’ve been hitting the ball a little bit better seeing the ball a little bit better and getting timely hitting when we need it.”
Geneva grabbed the lead in the second. Josh Handzik (St. Joseph’s Coll) doubled off the wall in left field. Kenny Reckart (Wooster) followed with a single to left. Handzik originally held up at third on the play, but scored on an errant throw to the infield.
Olean tied the score in the fifth. Isaac Dillard (Gulf Coast CC) tripled into the left center field gap to start the stanza. Aaron Phillips (St. Bonaventure) brought him home with a ground ball to the right side of the infield.
“After the first or second inning I seen that he was going curve ball, fastball to every hitter,” Dillard stated. “He started me off with the curve ball, so I knew the fastball was coming. I just got my foot down, and I was on time. Kept my nose on it and just tried to drive deep to the gaps.”
The opposing starters locked in from there. Bizzle (4-3 during the regular season) retired eight straight before surrendering a two-out walk in the seventh. Powers (6-0) set down seven of eight.
“I have respect for that guy,” Bizzle said of his All-Star teammate. “I know he competes and throws well. All I can do is go out there and compete as hard as him if not harder.”
“You got to go into as a regular game,” Powers stated. “I play no game differently (than another). I’m sure adrenaline in certain games is higher than other games.”
Geneva looked to have taken the lead in the seventh. Taylor Vile (Castleon St.) worked a two-out walk. Bob Barnett (Widener) reached on a fielder’s choice when Vile, going with a two-strike pitch, beat the throw to second for the force out. J. T. Pittman (Le Moyne), the league’s leading hitter, singled through the right side of the infield. Edwards cleanly fielded the ball in right and fired it home. Vile appeared to beat throw but was called out on the play.
Olean will look to close out its first playoff series victory Monday night at Bradner Stadium.
“We got momentum,” Dillard said. “We get to go back to our home stadium. It’s kinda hard to beat us at home because we got the fan support.” We get back to the Brad and we’re just going to try and come off with the second one.”
Olean reached the playoffs in 2012, its first season of existence, before falling in straight games to the Niagara Power. In 2013, under a one-division format, Olean knocked off the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs in a one-game playoff before falling to eventual league-champion, Oneonta.
“We get back to the Brad and we’re just going to try and come off with the second one,” Dillard added.”
The Twins will look to force a deciding game to win a playoff series for the second consecutive year. Geneva eliminated Rochester in a decisive game of last year’s Western Divisional Series.
“Our guys have never given up this entire season,” Weeks said of the approach to game two. “They have fought down, up whatever it is. It doesn’t matter. Great group of guys. They fight really hard.”
Geneva outhit Olean 10-4 but committed five errors which led to two of the Oilers three runs.
“We had a little mental collapse today,” Powers said. “We had ten hits. We just couldn’t get runs across.”
Bizzle hurled nine shutout innings on May 30th as Olean opened the season with a 5-0 victory over defending champion, Hornell. The Oilers finished the season 26-20.
First pitch at Bradner Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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