30-Run Thriller: Americans’ Skid Stretches to 10

NEWARK, N.Y. — In a contest that featured 30 runs and double-digit errors, the Niagara Falls

Americans suffered their 10th straight loss Friday night at Colburn Park against the Newark

Pilots.

Michael Sabella, in his first at-bat of the season for the Americans, recorded his first hit and

started the scoring. Later in the frame, Nick Paszt was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and

Cooper Rowell delivered a two-out, two-RBI single, giving the Americans a 4-0 lead after one.

In the bottom of the first, the Pilots pushed across six runs on three hits and four errors, leaving

two runners stranded. Three of the four errors in the inning were committed by the left side of the

Americans’ infield.

The Pilots added to their lead in the second, scoring one run on one hit, making it 7-4.

In his first start of the season, Owen McCandless tossed two innings, allowing seven runs (two

earned) on four hits while walking four and striking out one.

Niagara Falls loaded the bases in the top of the third, and Cooper Rowell worked a walk to force

a run. Vincent Favata later scored in the inning on a wild pitch, cutting the Pilots’ lead to 7-6.

The Americans added a run in the fourth on another wild pitch but were unable to push across

anymore, leaving the bases juiced.

After back-to-back walks to start the bottom of the fourth and a successful sacrifice bunt,

Newark plated two more runs on a Michael DeRosa single to right-center field. DeRosa was the

lone Pilot named a Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) West Division Mid-

Season All-Star.

In the fifth, Dominick Zangardi came to the plate with the bases loaded and clobbered his second

home run of the season to right-center for a grand slam, giving the Americans an 11-9 lead.

Adam Weiss pitched in relief for the Americans, going three innings and surrendering two earned

runs on one hit, with three walks and two strikeouts. It was Weiss’s fourth appearance of the

season.

Following a scoreless sixth inning, Xander Clark and Dominick Zangardi each had an RBI knock

in the seventh, putting Niagara Falls ahead 13-9 .

Newark added a run in the bottom of the seventh after another Americans error. There were no

hits in the inning, but the Pilots left two runners on base.

Appearing in his second consecutive game on the mound, Alex Glasscock fired two innings out

of the Americans bullpen, allowing one unearned run on no hits while striking out one.

Cooper Rowell smacked an RBI triple in the eighth, scoring the Americans’ 14th run of the

game.

Thomas Marcotte, also pitching in back-to-back games, tossed the eighth for Niagara Falls.

The Pilots began the bottom of the eighth with two consecutive walks and went on to score six

runs on three hits and one error, reclaiming the lead, 16-14.

Marcotte was charged with the loss in his second appearance of the season. He issued three

walks and hit a batter in the inning, but only three of the six runs he allowed were earned. The

loss was his first of the season, dropping his record to 0-1.

Dominick Zangardi finished 3-for-5, a triple shy of the cycle. Zangardi had five RBIs, the most

by an Americans player in a single game this season.

Cooper Rowell went 2-for-3 with four RBIs, a run scored and two walks. This marked Rowell’s

second four-RBI game of the season, the other coming on June 12, also at Colburn Park against

the Pilots.

Xander Clark reached base safely six times, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three walks.

It was Clark’s first multi-hit game of the season.

Justin Gladfelter went 0-for-1 with a strikeout, a stolen base and five walks. He also committed

four errors—both of which were the most by an Americans player in a single game this season.

The Americans finished with 15 walks as a team, tying their season high in a single game, set

June 7 against the Auburn Doubledays. The eight Niagara Falls errors marked the most in a

single game this season.

With the loss, the Americans fell to 9-22, while the Pilots snapped a four-game losing streak and

improved to 5-20. Niagara Falls still leads the season series, 2-1.

Links

PGCBL Box Score

Game Livestream

The Americans will host the Olean Oilers tomorrow night in the teams’ first-ever matchup at Sal

Maglie Stadium, as Olean joined the PGCBL this season. The Oilers lead the season series 2-0.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and all fans in attendance will receive a free T-shirt.

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

Season tickets start as low as $99. For sponsorship opportunities or to organize a group outing,

contact General Manager Marc Witt at mwitt.canusa@gmail.com.

By: Tom Rook

July 10, 2026