June 29, 2026
The Hornell Steamers jumped out to an early two-run lead but couldn’t overcome a five-run third inning by the Genesee Rapids, falling 6-4 Sunday afternoon at Kerr-Pegula Field. Hornell wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the opening inning. Michael Duncan (Eastern Mennonite) drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Markus Brehm (FLCC/St. Bonaventure) singled to put runners on the corners. Brehm then stole both second and third, allowing Duncan to score on a sacrifice fly by Will Parker (Pomona Pitzer). Moments later, a sac fly Brett Chiesa (Rowan) enabled Brehm to cross the plate, giving the Steamers a 2-0 advantage. Genesee answered with a decisive third inning. Gage Wheaton launched a three-run home run to put the Rapids in front. Later in the inning, PJ Ortiz drove in another run with a double down the left-field line before scoring on a throwing error to extend the lead to 5-2.
Hornell chipped away in the fifth. Beno Ballard (North Park) opened the inning with a single before Callum McAtee (Transylvania) walked. Wyatt Argentieri (Bethany Lutheran) reached on a fielder’s choice, with Ballard scoring on a Genesee throwing error, and Luke Manders (Kalamazoo) followed with an RBI single to right to trim the deficit to 5-4. The Rapids answered with an insurance run in the sixth when Kieran Crossley doubled home Aidan Robinson to make it 6-4. Hornell continued to battle, putting runners on base in each of the final three innings, but could not deliver the tying hit. The Steamers stranded nine runners, including two in both the seventh and eighth innings. Ballard led the Hornell offense with a 3-for-4 afternoon, while Brehm finished 2-for-5 with two stolen bases and a run scored. Manders added a hit and an RBI, and McAtee reached base twice while scoring a run.
After the difficult third inning, the Steamers’ bullpen gave Hornell every opportunity to rally. Zachary Emmer (Kalamazoo) turned in five strong innings of relief, allowing just one run on one hit while striking out four. Eddison Wayman Bender (Houghton0 followed with a scoreless eighth inning. Hornell (11-8-1) outhit the Rapids, 8-5, but Genesee capitalized on its opportunities in the third inning and made the lead stand the rest of the way. The Steamers host the Dansville Gliders tonight at 7 p.m. at Maple City Park.
