By PAUL GOTHAM
OLEAN, N.Y. — Any chance the Olean Oilers are content with their accomplishments up to this point in the season was quickly dispatched Friday night at Bradner Stadium.
The Oilers pounded out 17 hits en route to a 17-6 win over the Wellsville Nitros in New York Collegiate Baseball League action, Friday.
Eddie DeMurias (University of Florida) connected on his first home run of the season – a two-run shot inside the left-field foul pole.
“First at bat he kinda got me to pop up,” DeMurias said. “It just missed my barrel. I wasn’t going to let him do it again. I was looking fastball so I could get the bat head out.”
Sam Kysor (Lock Haven) and Cole Peterson (St. Bonaventure) followed with back-to-back triples as the Oilers took a commanding 9-4 lead after four.
“It’s a testament to what we’ve been doing for the whole season,” Kysor said of the big inning. “Everybody’s been getting their early work in. Been in the weight room. Just committing to success every at bat with a quality approach and sticking to that approach.”
David Lyskawa (Niagara County CC) made the offensive support stick. After giving up three runs in the second, the Oilers starter settled in and tossed four scoreless innings before exiting with his sixth win of the season.
“I was making my pitches for the most part,” Lyskawa explained. “I missed one spot and there you go, a three-run triple. I didn’t get mad which helped me. I just stayed calm and made my pitches, trusted my catcher and pretty much just kept rolling. Kept shoving. Helped my D out.”
One day after throwing a scoreless inning in the league all-star game, the left-hander struck out nine and walked three.
Wellsville’s first three batters of the night reached base before Lyskawa escaped allowing an unearned run in the first. The Nitros loaded the bases again in the second. Lyskawa retired a pair with punch outs. He almost escaped the inning, but the league’s leading hitter, Harry Montero, Jr. (Bloomfield) cleared the bases with a two-strike triple to right center.
“Realistically that could have gotten a lot uglier for us,” Oilers coach Bobby Bell said. “Good for him to bear down and get out of it.
“We had to pick for the all-star game trying to make sure everyone was fresh. It was kinda like hey, who are you going to pick who’s going to throw one inning the day before? We thought Dave was our best option. He buckled down when we needed him.”
Kysor drove in three with a two-out single in the fifth. The Oilers right fielder doubled home another run in a five-run seventh as the Oilers put the game out of reach.
“We’re just trying to recognize early and going with what every good hitter knows,” Bell said of his team’s success at the plate. “Attacking the ball in certain spots of the plate.”
Kysor was one of six Oilers with multiple hits on the night. He finished 3-for-4 with four RBI and three runs scored. Teammate Alex Griffith (Pittsburgh) drove in a run and scored two with four hits in five at bats.
DeMurias, Mark Koloszvary (University of Florida), Peterson and Aaron Phillips (St. Bonaventure) collected two hits apiece. DeMurias and Phillips both drove in four runs.
“It’s kinda taking advantage of the whole field,” Bell explained. “That’s what we’re trying to do. We’ve been working with getting quality at bats in the way of doing work with the pitcher and seeing it deep and driving it the other way if it’s outside or attacking out front like Eddie did on his.”
Olean leads the season series between the Western Division’s top two teams six to three, but the Nitros had taken three of the last four meetings heading into Friday’s matchup.
“I guess it’s always on your mind,” Kysor said of the recent struggles against Wellsville. “They’ve kinda been our kryptonite whether it be at their place or our place.”
With less than ten games remaining in the season, Friday night’s game could have been playoff preview when the Oilers will contend for their second straight NYCBL Championship.
“Staying consistent and knowing what we’re capable of,” Kysor said of Olean’s approach to the remainder of the season. “Really grind it out these last couple of weeks. Coach Bell has been saying ‘championship or bust.’ We’ve bought into that. We really got to work together these last couple of weeks and show them what we’re capable of.”
With the win, Olean (35-5) clinched home-field advantage throughout those upcoming playoffs.
“That’s beside the point,” Bell added. “It was more that first round. You never want to play a one-game playoff. Anything can happen in that. Terrified of one of those actually. I’m glad we got through that. It’s nice to have home-field advantage. We don’t lose much here. We usually get a big crowd for any big crowds. It helps make our guys more comfortable.”
Tyler Culpepper (Roane State CC) led the Nitros with three hits in four trips to the plate. Wellsville’s shortstop scored two runs. Michael McNicholl (Eastern New Mexico) and Montero added two hits each.
Chris Dipilato (Nichols) tossed two shutout innings in relief for Olean.
Olean hosts Hornell on Saturday. A 1 p.m. start is scheduled at Bradner Stadium. Wellsville welcomes the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs for a 5 p.m. first pitch.
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