July 15, 2026
By Steamers General Manager Paul Welker
The Hornell Steamers rebounded in impressive fashion Tuesday night, exploding for 16 hits to earn a 12-8 victory over the Dansville Gliders after dropping the opener 3-0 in a NYCBL doubleheader at Maple City Park. After being limited to three hits in Game 1, Hornell’s offense erupted in the nightcap, scoring 12 runs and holding off several Dansville comeback attempts to salvage a split with the league-leading Gliders. Game One: Dansville 3, Hornell 0
The opener featured a pitchers’ duel before Dansville broke through with timely hits to earn the shutout victory. The Gliders took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Brady Hargraves connected on a solo home run to center. They added insurance runs in the fourth and sixth as Gibson Brown delivered RBI singles in both innings to finish with two runs batted in.
Hornell had opportunities but couldn’t find the timely hit. The Steamers put runners on base in the first, third, fourth and sixth innings, including a pair of runners in scoring position during the fourth, but Dansville starter Drew Leidal and relievers Marc Thomas and Joshua Martin combined to scatter just three hits while preserving the shutout. Nolan Winthrop (Pomona Pitzer) reached base three times with a hit and two walks, while Beno Ballard (Westminster) and Taylor Joseph (North Park) accounted for Hornell’s other two hits. Evan LaMothe (Johnson & Wales) turned in a solid start despite taking the loss, allowing two runs over 3.1 innings before Peter Pipikios (North Park) and David Philips (Houghton) combined to limit the Gliders to one run over the final 3.2 innings.
Game Two: Hornell 12, Dansville 8
The Steamers wasted no time responding in the nightcap, scoring five runs in the opening inning and never looking back.
Winthrop singled to start the rally before Markus Brehm (St. Bonaventure) doubled into the gap. John Greenwood (North Park) drove home the game’s first run with an RBI single, and Joseph followed with another run-scoring hit. Later in the inning, Callum McAtee delivered a RBI single that, coupled with a Dansville error, helped stake Hornell to a 5-0 advantage. Dansville clawed back with a four-run fourth inning to tie the game at 5-5, but the Steamers answered immediately.
Michael Duncan (Eastern Mennonite) and Rylan Stokes (McMurry) opened the bottom of the fourth with consecutive singles before Winthrop lined an RBI single to center. Will Parker (Pomona Pitzer) followed with another run-scoring single to put Hornell back in front 7-5.
The decisive blow came in the fifth. Joseph singled to begin the inning before McAtee doubled home a run. Stokes followed with a two-run double into the gap, and Brehm later forced home another run with a bases-loaded walk before Winthrop scored on a wild pitch, giving Hornell a commanding 12-5 lead. Dansville refused to go quietly, scoring three runs in the sixth, but the Steamers’ bullpen held the Gliders scoreless over the final inning and a third. Talen Pilz (Pomona Pitzer) retired the final two batters to earn the save. Hornell’s offense was relentless, collecting 16 hits. Winthrop led the way with a perfect 4 for 4 performance, scoring twice and driving in a run. Joseph went 3 for 4 with a triple, an RBI and two runs scored, while McAtee finished 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs.
Stokes enjoyed one of his best games of the summer, going 2 for 3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Duncan added two hits and scored twice, while Greenwood, Parker and Brehm each drove in a run. Alex Spezzano (Hobart) gave Hornell three strong innings to start the game before Zachary Emmer (Kalamazoo) earned the victory in relief. Despite issuing 10 walks, the Steamers struck out nine Gliders and made enough key pitches late to secure the split.
The split moved Hornell to 16-14-1 on the season. Hornell and Dansville play again on Wednesday with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.
