July 28, 2021
The Hornell Dodgers used a nine-run 5th inning to propel themselves to a 14-5 victory over the Mansfield Destroyers in game one of the NYCBL Western Division Championships.
Neither team got much offense going in the first three innings and Charlie White (Boiling Springs, PA/Wilmington) and Nico Ryder battled on the mound.
Hornell got it going in the 4th. Jack McDonald (Wilmington) led off with a single, Brendan O’Donnell (Rider) drew a walk, and Chris Penna (Rhodes) followed with a two-RBI double. Matteo Avallone (Alfred State) followed with his second double of the game to make it 3-0.
White stranded two runners on base in the bottom of the 3rd and the Dodgers exploded for nine runs in the 5th to put the game out of reach. Levi Hall (Webster) led off with a single to center, after a diving catch Ryan Hill (Monroe CC/Mercyhurst) and McDonald drew walks to load the bases. Hall scored on a wild pitch and O’Donnell took a 1-2 pitch and hit it off the left center fence to score Hill and McDonald. Penna followed with a RBI single to make it 7-0. After a pitching change and a ground out, Jordyn Smith (Grambling) collected a RBI single to right. Aaron Mann (Drury) singled and Hall drew a walk to load the bases again. Matt Staker (Webster) drove in a pair with a single to right and Hill doubled to left to drive in two more and make it 12-0.
The Destroyers got on the board in the bottom of the 5th with a single run and added two more in the 6th. They cut the lead to 12-5 with single runs in the 7th and 8th before Hornell added two more insurance runs in the top of the 9th. Avallone scored on a wild pitch and Smith scored on a Staker sac fly.
Brody Burdett (Alfred State) retired the side in order in the 9th to close the game and finish up his third inning of relief. White threw the first four innings and allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out six. Lewis Pettit (Alfred State) pitched the 5th and 6th.
Smith led the Dodgers 14-hit attack with a 3 for 5 day. Avallone and Mann were each 2 for 4 while Penna was 2 for 5 with 3 RBI. Staker also finished the day with 3 RBI. All nine Dodger starters collected a hit.
No Mansfield hitters collected multiple hits. Willie Schwarick hit a solo homer for the Destroyers in the 8th.
Game two of the best of three Western Division Championships will be held tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Maple City Park.
