ELDRED — The Port Allegany baseball team picked up their third straight win behind a strong fifth inning in their 7-3 win over Otto-Eldred.
Coming into this game, the Gators were starting to pick up steam. After suffering some wide-margin losses early in the season, Port had reeled it in of late. Currently on a positive stretch, their last two games came with wins, beating Johnsonburg twice, 3-1 and 10-7. For the Terrors on the other hand, they’ve had an up-and-down season at 7-7, winning two games in their last five.
After giving up a single, the Terrors defense came up with a double play for a quick start to the match. At their first at-bat, O-E got the ball rolling with some early offense. Starting with Manning Splain using his awareness to get a leadoff walk. Two batters later, Andrew Schenfield hit a low line drive into center field bringing in Splain. Next up to bat was Landon Francis who brought in Michael Sheeler on a deep hit to right center field. This quick start gave the Terrors a 2-0 lead at the end of the first inning.
For the next four innings, the defenses would not give ground with neither team being able to score. That was until the top of the fifth when the Gators got their offense going.
A pair of singles from Gavin Moses and Kellen Veilleux put baserunners in scoring position for Port. Tyler Fillhart hit a fast ground ball that found its way past the second baseman to bring in both baserunners. Henry Troupe brought in another run with a line drive to center field before Aiden Smith’s double cleared the bases, driving in two more Gator runs. The Gators finished off this strong inning with singles from Jacob Causer and Moses, with each batter driving in a single run. This scoring outburst gave the Gators a 7-2 lead midway through the fifth inning.
“It took a while to warm up,” said Port head coach Rick Veilleux. “Once we put the ball in play and got the offense going we were able to score runs when we needed it.”
Down five runs, the Terrors would battle it out in their final at-bat in the bottom of the seventh. O-E was able to load up the bases quickly and Splain was able to get walked a second time to send Zach Schuessler home for the score. With bases still loaded and just one out, the Terrors had a chance to tie the game. The comeback would be cut short, however, as Smith struck out back-to-back Terrors batters, sealing the Gators’ seventh win of the season.
The Gators were led by Fillhart who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Smith who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. The Terrors were led by Francis who went 1-for-3 with one RBI.
“We are very athletic. We make plays when we need to,” said Veilleux. “We are also young. We had three freshmen playing tonight so It is a good thing when everyone is working together and making plays. We just need to focus on getting hits and stops when it matters most.”
Port Allegany:
Otto-Eldred: Schuessler (3 SO, 1 BB), Obenrader (5) ( 2 SO, 1 BB), Wolfe (6) ( 1 SO, 0 BB) and Schenfield
