Winkle leads Webster past Hornell

HORNELL, N.Y. – Webster Yankee fans have learned to expect the unexpected with this year’s team. After all, Dave Brust’s crew scored eight runs in the bottom of the ninth to win the home opener 8-7. From late inning comebacks to pitching duels to slug fests the 2010 pinstripes have done it all to win games. Fans can add unconventional triple plays to the list.

Wes Winkle (Ball State) sparked a six-run fourth inning and later squashed a Hornell rally as Eric Kline (Iowa Western) earned his first win of the season, and the Yankees trimmed the first-place Dodgers 6-5 in New York Collegiate Baseball League at Maple City Park.

Winkle’s two-out single to right field plated Evan Wexler (Niagara) and Ollie Bertrand (Flagler) with a pair of unearned runs as the Yankees chased Hornell starter, Nick Gillung (Mercyhurst).

Cory Goeggleman led the frame with a single, and Matt Delewski (Toledo) doubled to left center. One out later, Matt Francis (U of R) loaded the bases with a walk.  After Goeggleman came home on a sacrfice fly to right by Blake Beemer (Ball State),  Bertrand reached on an error. Wexler then connected with the first of three two-out hits by the Basket Road Bombers.

Tyler Grogg (Toledo) walked and eventually scored on Goeggleman’s second hit of the inning.

From there the Yanks used some defensive dramatics and held on for the victory.

Hornell’s Craig Schafer (Webster College) opened the bottom of the frame with a single to left.  Dane Frazier (Central Methodist) followed with a bunt single. Hornell looked poised to make a comeback when Kyle O’Boyle took a Kline pitch deep to left center. But Winkle sprinted into the gap, lunged and, with his back to home plate,  made the diving catch. With the runners thinking it was a sure hit, Winkle alertly got back on his feet and fired a strike to Matt Boulter (So. New Hampshire U)  at second for the force. Boulter then tagged Frazier for the unconventional triple play.

Two innings later, Michael Sandman (Ball State) showed his own flair for the dramatic. He came on in relief with one and runners at the corners and got out of the inning with a pair of strike outs.

“We have a lot of talented kids,” noted coach Dave Brust. “It’s a different guy every night and several guys getting the job done.”

With the win, Webster improves to 12-10 on the season. The Yankees host Niagara Wednesday. First pitch at “The Basket” is scheduled for 7 p.m. Out-of-town fans can listen to the game on TEAMLINE . Those in attendance can get their own copy of the first book written on the NYCBL: Everybody On, Nobody Out – the story of the 2007 Webster Yankees. Books are available at the white press tent for just $10.