By PAUL GOTHAM
Mike Fahrman (University of Florida) was there when Olean fell to the eventual champion Oneonta Outlaws in the deciding game of the 2013 New York Collegiate Baseball League semi-finals. In the seventh inning he struck out with the tying run at third. Olean lost 4-3. The young man returned in 2014 and was part of an Oilers’ team which endured 13 one-run losses and finished short of the post-season with a 16-30 record.
No one knows better than Fahrman what’s at stake when Olean takes the field Monday night at Bradner Stadium with the opportunity to advance in the NYCBL playoffs.
“I can speak for all of us that missing the playoffs last year (hurt),” Fahrman said after Sunday’s win in game one of the Western Divisional Series. “Bobby (Bell) and the coaches work so hard. All the fans, they really wanted to have a playoff game there.”
The sting of that defeat stuck with the Tampa, Florida native and when it came to decide on his plans for this summer, he didn’t hesitate.
“This is a chance to play with a great group of guys,” Fahrman said. “I love it here. I have no regrets.”
But being part of a Florida Gators team which finished one win shy of the College World Series championship, Fahrman had choices.
“You can’t get better unless you play,” Fahrman explained. “For me, my opportunity here was to play. If I would have gone to the Northwoods (Leauge), I probably would have split time with two other catchers. Coaches down at Florida said ‘I need you to play, to develop and better my game.'”
Bobby Bell can’t say enough about the effect Fahrman, a second-team all-league catcher a year ago, has had on the Oilers.
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“It’s so easy to have him back because you know he’s going to control the game,” Bell stated. “He calls a great game.”
Bell deferred to Fahrman Sunday night and left Olean starter Austin Bizzle on the mound to complete the eighth inning.
“I came to get him (Bizzle), but Mike Fahrman looked at me and said no,” Bell recalled. “He knows each pitcher on a different level.”
Bizzle struck out the next two he faced and ended the inning getting a routine ground ball.
The Rochester Ridgemen took a half-game lead on Olean in the race for fourth place when they beat the Oilers 9-5 on July 18th. Olean went 8-2 the rest of the way. Fahrman earned a pair of league Player of the Night nods during that stretch.
“This whole week every game has been an elimination game for us,” Fahrman commented. “It’s kinda been the playoffs to get in.”
And Fahrman expects nothing short of a playoff atmosphere at “The Brad” Monday night.
“The fans are going to be rockin’,” he said. “There are going to be a bunch of people there. They’re going to be excited. We’re going to be excited as well.”
Brandon Schlimm (St. Bonaventure/2-2, 1.86) will get the start for Olean. Geneva sends Mitch McNabb (Marietta/1-1, 4.39) to the mound.
A 7 p.m. first pitch is scheduled.
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