SHINGLEHOUSE — By the end of the first inning, it was evident which team was playing in its fifth game of the season and which one was only on the field for the second time this spring.
Oswayo Valley took advantage of being the more seasoned team and capitalized on an abundance of unforced errors to defeat Smethport 15-0 in four innings on Friday afternoon.
Oswayo Valley (4-1), which has scored double-digit runs in three of its first five games to begin the season, got the offense rolling early against the Hubbers (0-2).
Garren Black laced a two-run double as part of a four-run first inning that was aided by two Smethport fielding errors. Black, the reigning Big 30 Player of the Year, had a four-RBI day that included a solo home run to start the third inning.
Smethport kept it close until the bottom of the third inning, when things fell apart. After Black’s leadoff home run, OV brought 14 men to the plate. Aided by three Smethport errors and six walks, the Green Wave scored 10 runs and blew the game wide open.
Orion Alexis, who began the inning for the Hubbers, was able to record just one out while giving up eight runs (only one of which was earned).
“Smethport is in transition. I hope there are good things to come for them,” Oswayo Valley head coach Brad Buchholz said. “The boys enjoy playing my alma mater, and we were able to put the ball in play. We have some key injuries where we are moving guys around and it’s a good game to try a couple guys in new positions to get them comfortable. Hopefully we can build on that.”
In addition to Black, Jacob Karr (2-for-2, two RBI), Camden Graves (two RBI) and Gunner Bean (two RBI) had big games at the plate for OV.
With the 15-run outburst in the box score, it may be easy to overlook OV’s starting pitcher. But, on a 45-degree afternoon in Shinglehouse, Ryan Graves’ performance also stood out.
The senior allowed only two hits over three innings, while striking out four Smethport batters.
“Ryan hasn’t pitched much this year and when you’re hoping for 45 degree weather to play, it’s tough,” Buchholz said. “It’s even tougher to pitch in under 40 degree weather. Hats of to pitchers in this one, and hats of to pictures in the entire area.”
For the Hubbers, the lack of playing time was noticeable early and often. In the first inning, a Smethport baserunner was easily thrown out on a missed sign trying to steal second. In the third, a potential leadoff double was erased when he attempted to stretch it into a triple.
After the game, Smethport coach Colby Austin declined to make too many excuses for his players, but admitted that going in rusty against a team like Oswayo Valley is a tall task.
“Today just showed what a lack of being on the field can do,” Austin said. “This is only the second time we have even been on a field. It’s been a tough spring. The kids aren’t quite there, and there were a lot of errors that shouldn’t have been made.”
Smethport starter Grant Ognen settled down after his shaky first inning, but Austin pulled him before the start of the third to manage pitch counts.
The Hubbers were supposed to host Friday’s game, but because their field is still mostly underwater, Smethport has yet to play a home game this season. That’s resulted in plenty of postponements, which will begin to catch up with the team next week. The Hubbers are scheduled to play five games in six days beginning on Monday.
More than anything, Austin is just pleased that his guys will be able to take the field.
“Hopefully, when the weather breaks and we get a couple more games under our belt a couple of these guys learn their position a little bit better,” he said. “We had two freshman out in the field today. Just need some guys to step it up and win some games here and there.”
For OV, as satisfied as Buchholz was with his team taking care of business against Smethport on Friday, he was quick to point out that the team’s big challenges await next week.
Smethport faces Otto-Eldred in a home-and-home series on Monday and Tuesday, and then has a rematch against Coudersport on Thursday.
After dropping their season opener to Coudy 11-5, the Green Wave have won their last four games by an average of 13 runs.
“This upcoming week is going to determine a lot league-wise,” Buchholz said. “We are really going to see where we’re at once next week is done.”
“I don’t even need to tell them what next week means for us,” he added. “We can’t afford any stumbles and we are going up against some good baseball teams. They know what’s at stake.”
AT SHINGLEHOUSE
R H E
Smethport 000 0XX X 0 2 4
Oswayo Valley 4010 1XX X 15 10 0
Ryan Graves (4 SO, 2 BB), Gage Babcock (4) (2 SO), and Noah Wichert
Grant Ognen (3 SO, 1 BB), Orion Alexis (3) (3 BB), Nate Hollowell (3) (1 SO, 2 BB), and Nate Hollowell
HR: Garren Black (OV)
