College Baseball: Webster Wears Out Niagara

Dave Brust’s Webster Yankees wore out their welcome Friday night. Or, maybe they just wore out the Niagara Power pitching staff. 

Nate Koontz (Ball State) and Shawn Bailey (SUNY Cortland) led a 22-hit barrage as the Webster Yankees buried the Niagara Power 13-4 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Sal Maglie Field. 

Webster blew the game open in the sixth, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring five runs. Bailey led off with an opposite-field line drive base hit.

After the Webster native stole second, Dominic Catanzarite (Ball State) sent a flare into right field plating Bailey, and the romp was on.

Koontz walked, and Mike Walraven (Hofstra) brought home Catanzarite with a base hit past the outstretched glove of Power third baseman, Angelo Buscemi (Central Conn St. U). 

Jason Edwards (Toledo) and Rhett Goodmiller (Central Michigan) greeted reliever Chris Kuenzle (Hannibal-LaGrange College) with back-to-back doubles. Ricky Clark (Central Michigan) delivered Goodmiller with an infield single. 

Webster jumped on Power starter, Anthony Cimabue (Wilmington), for three runs in the first. Clark, returning to the top of the order for the first time since June 11, singled to open the game.

Bailey doubled, and Steve Muoio (Georgia C&S) walked. Koontz singled to score Clark. Ryan Chenoweth (Ball State) scored two with an opposite field double. 

Matt Jimenez (Mercyhurst) retired the last seven he faced for his second win of the season. The native of Elma, NY struck out five and walked two – surrendering four earned runs. Jimenez worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth allowing just one run. 

Niagara scored three in the third with a pair of infield singles and one hit batsman. Travis Latz (Abilene Christian) highlighted the scoring with a triple to right center. 

Cimabue went the distance on June 18, limiting the pinstripes to two runs on seven hits as the Power took a 6-2 decision. Since then, the Yanks have taken three consecutive from their West Division rivals outscoring the Power 22-5 in the process. 

Koontz finished the game 5-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, four RBI, three runs scored, and a walk. Bailey went 4-for-6 with a double, three runs scored, and a stolen base. 

“This is the potential of these guys,” noted Brust. “You can only hold down this team for so long.” 

Geoff Dornes (R.I.T.) and Bryant Guilmette (UMass-Lowell) came out of the bullpen and held the Power scoreless for the final three stanzas. 

Clark returned to action Thursday night for the first time since June 11, when he was hit by a pitch. The infielder returned home to Mason, Michigan for an MRI. When tests proved negative, Clark patiently worked to regain movement in his hand. 

“It still feels a little sloppy, but it’s getting stronger,” said Clark. 

After an off day, Webster travels to Scio Sunday for a double header with the Allegany County Nitros. Scott Brothers (Ball State) gets the start in game one while Dan Jurik (St. John Fisher) takes the hill in the night cap. 

Pickin' Splinters