June 22, 2026
By Steamers GM Paul Welker
The Hornell Steamers erased a five-run deficit and battled all the way back to tie the game, but Genesee pushed across the go-ahead run in the eighth inning to hand the Steamers an 8-7 defeat Saturday night at Kerr-Pegula Field. Despite the loss, Hornell showcased its resilience, rallying from an early 5-0 hole and nearly completing one of its most impressive comebacks of the season. The Rapids struck quickly in the opening inning. After Logan Hoyt stole both second and third base, Genesee pieced together four hits and took advantage of a Hornell error to score five runs and build a commanding early lead. Hornell chipped away in the third when Marcus Brehm (Finger Lakes CC/St. Bonaventure) singled, stole second, and later scored on a Will Parker (Pomona Pitzer) RBI fielder’s choice.
Genesee added single runs in the third and fourth innings to extend the lead to 7-1, but the Steamers refused to go away. The comeback began in the fifth inning. Brehm walked to start the rally before John Greenwood (North Park) reached on an error. Parker then lined an RBI double to right-center field, and Brett Chiesa (Rowan) followed with an RBI single. Luke Manders (Kalamazoo) added a sacrifice fly, and Wyatt Argentieri (Bethany Lutheran) capped the four-run frame with an RBI single to pull Hornell within 7-5. The Steamers continued to apply pressure in the sixth. Brehm worked another walk and eventually scored when Taylor Joseph (North Park) drove in a run on a fielder’s choice, trimming the deficit to a single run.
Hornell finally pulled even in the seventh. Rylan Stokes (McMurry) doubled and later scored when Greenwood delivered an RBI single to left field, knotting the game at 7-7. After holding Genesee scoreless for three consecutive innings, the Rapids found the deciding run in the eighth. Luis Tumero doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch before crossing the plate on a balk, giving Genesee an 8-7 advantage. The Steamers threatened in the ninth when Stokes singled and Brehm added a two-out hit, but Genesee was able to record the final out and preserve the victory. Hornell finished with 15 hits, led by Greenwood’s 3-for-5 performance with an RBI and a run scored. Brehm reached base four times, collected two hits, stole two bases, and scored three runs. Stokes added three hits, including a double, while Argentieri contributed three hits and an RBI.
Parker drove in two runs, Chiesa added an RBI, and Manders and Joseph each collected a run batted in as the Steamers’ offense produced throughout the lineup. After the difficult first inning, Hornell’s pitching staff settled in. Heath Betza (Mercyhurst) struck out five over 4.1 strong innings of relief. Genesee was paced by Nate Simon, who recorded two extra-base hits and drove in two runs, while Luis Tumero scored twice and reached base three times. The Steamers moved to 9-6 on the season.
