Red Wings eliminated from playoffs
The Hornell Dodger bats could not be stopped two nights in a row, as they defeated the Red Wings 15-4 on Saturday night at McDonough Park.
Casey Rana (UT-Permian Basin) threw perfect through the first three innings, but Wings pitching ran into problems from that point on.
The Wings jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on Dodger starter Erik Lambe. In the first, left fielder Jeff Cola (University of Toledo) and third baseman Will Harford (University of Notre Dame) hit consecutive singles. Then two batters later, first baseman Dan Pembroke (Dowling College) got an RBI base hit to score Cola.
Harford got another base hit in the third, before right fielder Jack Wortley (UT-Permian Basin) got the Wings first postseason home run.
Wortley’s homer gave the Wings a 3-0 lead that did not last for long.
Hornell’s one and two hitters, shortstop Jonathan Keppler and first baseman Jeff Lockwood, reached base in the fourth and fifth innings before scoring. Catcher Adam Schlessel brought them home the first time with an RBI double.
In the fifth, Keppler and Lockwood scored on a hit by pitch and fielder’s choice.
Pembroke cut the deficit to 10-4 in the bottom of the eighth, by crushing a homer over the scoreboard in right field. It made little difference though, as the Dodgers scored five times in the ninth.
Lockwood and left fielder Trey Bennett hit back-to-back homers, three RBI and solo, respectively.
With the win, Hornell advanced into the NYCBL West Division Championship series to play the Alfred Oilers. Alfred swept Brockport in their first round matchup.