Late Hits Not Enough to Break Shutout Loss Against Jamestown

        JAMESTOWN, NY - The Niagara Falls Americans traveled to Jamestown to face off with the Tarp Skunks for the second straight night. The Americans’ bats couldn’t get hot until late in the game, leading to a 0-9 loss in Jamestown. This result moves both teams to 7-6 on the season, and evens the season-long series 2-2. Niagara Falls has now dropped four in a row, and has gone 1-6 since starting the season 6-0.

        In a scoreless night for the Niagara Falls offense, Chris Guzaldo and Ian Huang were the most impressive. Guzaldo reached base in all three plate appearance, two by singles and once by walk. He was the only American with more than one hit. Huang did not record a hit, but walked twice, the only American with multiple walks.

        Three pitchers saw the mound for the Americans in the contest. Robert Leach started the game, pitching 4.0 innings and being credited with the loss. Leach allowed eight runs, six earned, striking out two. John Ondus entered in relief and pitched an efficient 3.0 innings. Ondus allowed just one run on two hits and one walk, striking out three along the way. Nolan Jackson was the final American on the rubber, pitching the full 8th inning. Jackson allowed a single to his leadoff batter, but recorded outs in the next three at bats to end the Tarp Skunks’ night on offense.

        On a strong offensive night for Jamestown, Nolan Smith, Brady McGuire, and Jakob Haynes led the way. Smith tallied a single in all three of his at bats, driving in one run. Additionally, Smith also walked once and scored runs on three of his four times on the base path. McGuire went 2-of-3 at the plate, hitting one double and driving in three RBIs. Haynes went 2-of-4 with an RBI and hit another double, the only other Jamestown extra base hit of the game.

        Four Tarp Skunks stepped on the rubber in the shutout performance. Cohen Harris started for Jamestown and pitched 4.0 innings. Harris allowed just one hit and two walks, striking out two. The winning pitcher, Nick Ianniello entered to pitch the 5th inning. Ianniello allowed no hits, two walks, and struck out one of his five batters faced. Colin Bolla entered in the 6th and pitched 3.0 innings. Bolla allowed three hits, no walks, and struck out four of his 12 batters faced. Quinten Shewmaker pitched the final full inning for Jamestown, allowing one hit and tallying one strikeout.

        The Tarp Skunks did not wait long to establish a lead, scoring the eventual winning runs in the 1st inning. After a leadoff single, the second and third batters were recorded out, putting the Americans in a good position to make it out of the 1st inning still tied 0-0. After a second single to left field, an error by the center fielder allowed the baserunners to advance an extra base to 2nd and 3rd. Brady McGuire then hit another single to center field, driving in Nolan Smith and Nathan Borchardt. The next batter flew out to center field to end the inning 2-0 Jamestown.

        In the bottom of the 3rd, Jamestown extended their lead by scoring four runs, the highest scoring inning of the game. After a leadoff walk by Smith, a double to left field by Jakob Haynes drove in Smith, and Haynes advanced to third on the throw. The next batter, Justin Bremner reached on a throwing error by the shortstop and advanced to second, allowing Haynes to cross home. A flyout allowed Bremner to advance to third with one out. McGuire hit a double down the left field line that scored Bremner, McGuire’s third RBI of the night. After advancing to third on a balk, a groundout by Brady Marshall drove in McGuire, the 4th and final run of the inning.

        Jamestown continued their momentum in the next inning. The first two batters, Ty Lagoni and Joaquin Rodriguez-Costa both walked, before the first out would come by strikeout. The Tarp Skunks reached the top of the order again, and Smith hit a single down the left field line that scored Lagoni. After a pop out, a single up the middle by Justin Bremner drove in Rodriguez-Costa. A flyout by the next better ended the inning with Jamestown up 8-0.

        Neither team scored again until the 7th inning, when Jamestown would score the ninth and final run of the game. The first two batters, Smith and Haynes, both hit singles to start the inning. Pinch hitter Chase Haglund hit into a fielders choice that put runners on the corners with one out. A wild pitch during the next at bat scored Smith, and held as the final run of the game.

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        Catch the next Americans home game tomorrow, June 20th, when we host the Niagara Ironbacks in a contest scheduled to start at 6:30pm. Join us for Native American Heritage Nights, presented by Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino! To purchase single-game or season tickets, call 716-215-6161 or visit niagarafallsamericans.com for more information. Season tickets start as low as $99! If you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring the Americans, or organizing a group outing to an Americans game, please contact General Manager Marc Witt at mwitt.canusa@gmail.com.