12-Game Skid Snapped: Americans Secure Split for First July Win

ELMIRA, N.Y. — Following an 11-8 loss in game one, the Niagara Falls Americans bounced

back with an 18-10 victory in the nightcap to earn a doubleheader split and end a 12-game losing

streak Sunday at Dunn Field.

Game 1: Elmira Pioneers 11, Niagara Falls Americans 8

Justin Gladfelter led off game one with a single but was caught stealing one pitch later. The next

two runners reached base safely and a Matthew Ganschow single gave Niagara Falls an early 1-0

lead. However, the next two Americans hitters struck out, stranding two runners.

Elmira got on the board in the bottom of the second when an infield single, coupled with an error

that allowed the ball to get through the infield, brought home two runs.

With one out in the top of the third, Justin Gladfelter reached first on a dropped third strike and

advanced to second on an errant throw. Later in the inning, Dominick Zangardi singled home

Gladfelter to tie the game at 2-2.

Matthew Ganschow reached on an errant throw to lead off the top of the fourth and later scored

on a Loagan Stickler groundout, giving the Americans a 3-2 lead.

In the next frame, four of the first five Elmira hitters reached base, including a bases-loaded hit-

by-pitch, prompting Americans starter, Nate Kroll to be taken out of the game.

In his first appearance of the year, Kroll went four and one third innings, allowing six runs (five

earned) on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

The Pioneers went on to score five more runs in the inning on one hit, two walks and a hit-by-

pitch, taking a commanding 8-3 lead.

After two quick outs in the top of the sixth, Matthew Ganschow walked and Adam Weiss was a

hit by a pitch. Thomas Marcotte then singled to score Ganschow. Loagan Stickler followed with

a two-out, two-run double, and Anthony Savino drove in Stickler on a single to left field, cutting

the deficit to 8-7.

In the bottom of the inning, Elmira added three insurance runs on four hits, including a leadoff

solo home run by Ryan Gabianelli.

Owen McCandless tossed one and two-thirds innings out of the bullpen, surrendering five earned

runs on five hits, with two walks and one strikeout.

Niagara Falls added another run in the top of the seventh inning when Justin Gladfelter lined a

triple to right-center field and scored after an overthrow on the play. However, that was all the

Americans could manage in the inning.

Nate Kroll took the loss, dropping his record to 0-1.

Justin Gladfelter and David Harris finished 2-for-4 in the game, the only Americans to record

multi-hit games.

Loagan Stickler went 1-for-3 with three RBIs and one run scored.

The loss dropped the Americans record to 9-24 and extended their losing streak to 12 games.

Elmira improved to 16-14 following the win.

Game 2: Niagara Falls Americans 18, Elmira Pioneers 10

The Americans jumped out to a hot start in the top of the first. The team’s three Perfect Game

Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) West Division All-Star selections—David Harris,

Dominick Zangardi, and Matthew Ganschow—hit three consecutive doubles to give the

Americans a 1-0 lead. With the bases loaded, Loagan Stickler launched a grand slam to left field,

giving the Americans an early 5-0 advantage.

Elmira plated three runs in the bottom of the inning on just one hit, a three-run-home-run by

Manny Castro.

In the following frame, the first six Pioneers batters reached base safely on four walks and two

hit-by-pitches, allowing three runs to come across. This gave Elmira a 6-5 lead.

Khyree Harmon started the game on the mound for the Americans, pitching one complete inning

and allowing six earned runs on one hit with five walks, one strikeout, and four hit-by-pitches.

Jackson Learner entered with the bases loaded and no outs in the second inning for Harmon. He

recorded three outs, without surrendering a run, keeping the score 6-5.

Adam Weiss laced a single in the top of the third to score two runs and reclaim the lead, 7-6, for

the Americans.

The Pioneers pushed across one run on three hits in the following inning, tying the game at 7-7,

but left the bases loaded for the second time in three innings.

Jackson Learner tossed three innings out of the bullpen, allowing one run on three hits with two

strikeouts. The outing was Learner’s team-high 12th of the season.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Pioneers scored one run with two outs, taking an 8-7 lead.

The sixth inning was a run barrage for the Americans. Niagara Falls scored ten runs on eight hits,

including four extra-base hits. Eight runs came off the bats of Loagan Stickler and David Harris

in the frame. Stickler hit his second grand slam of the game with one out in the inning, while

David Harris had two two-RBI singles in the frame alone. The other two runs came via hits from

Matthew Ganschow and Evan Shank. The inning was the most runs scored in a single inning by

the Americans this season, propelling them to a 17-8 lead.

Niagara Falls added another run in the top of the seventh on an Anthony Savino RBI walk,

making it an 18-8 game.

In the bottom of the final frame, Elmira scored two more runs on three hits, but it was not

enough to mount a full comeback.

Dominick Zangardi earned his first victory on the mound this season in his fifth appearance. He

fired three innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts,

improving his record to 1-0.

Loagan Stickler finished 2-for-4 with eight RBIs and two runs scored and two grand slams. His

eight RBIs were the most by and Americans player in a game this season. Stickler totaled 11

RBIs across the doubleheader.

David Harris went 3-for-5 with four RBIs, two runs, and a stolen base. Harris has now recorded a

hit in 12 straight games and reached base safely in 17 straight.

Matthew Ganschow went 3-for-4 with three doubles, an RBI, and a walk. His three extra-base

hits were the most by an Americans player in a single game this season.

The Americans recorded 10 extra base-hits as a team, their season high. Their previous high was

four, accomplished twice: on June 17 against the Niagara Ironbacks and July 10 against the

Newark Pilots. The 18 runs and 19 hits were both season-highs for the Americans in a single

game.

With the game two victory, the Americans reached double-digit wins, and earned their first

victory since June 28, also against Elmira. Niagara Falls improved to 10-24, while the Pioneers

fell to 16-15. The season series between the two clubs ended in a 2-2 split.

Links

Game 1 PGCBL Box Score

Game 1 Livestream 1

Game 1 Livestream 2

Game 2 PGCBL Box Score

Game 2 Livestream 1

Game 2 Livestream 2

The Americans return home to host the Newark Pilots tomorrow night for Guaranteed Win

Night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. If the Americans lose, all fans in attendance will

receive a free ticket to the next home game, Tuesday, July 14 against the Batavia Muckdogs.

For single-game tickets, call (716) 215-6161 or visit www.niagarafallsamericans.com. For

sponsorship opportunities or to organize a group outing, contact General Manager Marc Witt at

mwitt.canusa@gmail.com.

By: Tom Rook

July 12, 2026