July 14, 2026
By Steamers GM Paul Welker
The Hornell Steamers responded after a loss yesterday, with a 10-0 shutout of the Genesee Rapids 10-0 at Kerr-Pegula Field.
Hornell pounded out 12 hits, received a combined four-hit shutout from its pitching staff, and scored in four different innings to earn one of its most complete victories of the season.
The Steamers broke through in the third inning with a two-out rally. After Markus Brehm (St. Bonaventure) walked and stole second and Will Parker (Pomona Pitzer) drew a free pass, Beno Ballard (Westminster) ripped a two-run double to center field to open the scoring. Taylor Joseph (North Park) followed with an RBI double to right-center before Callum McAtee (Transylvania) lined another RBI double down the left-field line, giving Hornell a 4-0 advantage.
The lead grew to six in the sixth inning. Nolan Winthrop (Pomona Pitzer) singled and advanced on a passed ball before Brehm delivered an RBI double into the left-center gap. Moments later, Brehm raced home on a throwing error after John Greenwood (North Park) lifted a fly ball to center, extending the Steamers’ lead to 6-0. Hornell put the game away in the eighth. Trent Green (Alfred State)opened the inning with a single and eventually scored when Parker was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Ballard added another RBI on a fielder’s choice before McAtee was also hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing home another run and pushing the lead to 9-0. The Steamers tacked on one final run in the ninth when Parker reached on a Genesee error, allowing Green to score. Hornell’s offense featured contributions throughout the lineup.
Ballard drove in a game-high three runs, finishing with a double, while McAtee went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Parker reached base three times, drove in two runs, and scored once, while Brehm scored twice, doubled, drove in a run, and stole two bases. Winthrop collected two hits and scored twice, Green added two hits and two runs scored, and Greenwood reached base three times as the Steamers took advantage of four Genesee errors and eight walks. The pitching staff was equally impressive. Starter Heath Betza (Mercyhurst) earned the victory after allowing just three hits over 5.1 scoreless innings while striking out seven. He did not allow a hit until the sixth inning. Peter Pipikios (North Park) stranded two inherited runners in the sixth and tossed 1.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts before Aidan Moore (Washington College0 and Talen Pilz (Pomona Pitzer) combined to finish off the shutout.
Hornell pitchers struck out 12 batters, allowed just four hits, and held the Rapids to 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
The Steamers host a 5 p.m. doubleheader versus the Dansville Gliders today.
