Webster Trounces Niagara

Nate Koontz (Ball State) capped a five-run fifth with a bases-clearing two-run double, and Lincoln worked six innings for the win as Webster downed Niagara, 9-1 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action Friday.

Ollie Bertrand (Monroe CC) started the rally with a leadoff single. Two outs later, Chriss Soldi (UMass-Lowell) walked. Both advanced on a wild pitch before an infield single by Ricky Clark (Central Michigan) plated Bertrand. Shawn Bailey (SUNY Cortland) singled to center bringing home Soldi. Rhett Goodmiller (Central Michigan) walked to load the bases, and Koontz delivered the blow.

Koontz leads the pinstripes with 21 RBI this season. The hit was also the eleventh extra-base hit of the season for the native of Indianapolis. He shares the lead in that category with Steve Muoio (Georgia C&S).

Webster added runs in the sixth and eighth frames. Bertrand, also, led the sixth with a single. Matt Jacobs (UMass-Lowell) followed with an infield base knock. Mike Walraven (Hofstra) loaded the bases with a single through the right side of the infield. Soldi plated Bertrand with his second RBI of the day.

Jacobs came home on a fielder’s choice by Clark. Bailey singled home Walraven for the 8-1 lead.

Webster added a run in the eighth. Bailey singled up the middle with two outs and moved to third on a double by Goodmiller.  Bailey came home on a wild pitch.

Rassi limited the Power to two hits while striking out nine and walking three in six innings of work. The right hander from Goshen, Indiana leads the home nine with five wins on the campaign.

Geoff Dornes (R.I.T.) worked a scoreless seventh with one strike out.

Bryant Gulimette (UMass-Lowell) struck out two in two innings of work.

With the win Webster improves to 18-17 and for now stands alone in the fourth and final playoff in the NYCBL West Division. Webster hosts a double header Saturday with the first-place Hornell Dodgers. First game is scheduled for 4pm. It’s ‘Bring Your Dog To The Park’ Day at Basket Road Field. Grab the pooch and come make a day of it with the Webster Yankees and the NYCBL.

Pickin’ Splinters