Americans Drop Regular Season Finale at Olean, Swept in Season Series by Oilers

OLEAN, N.Y. — Despite striking first, the Niagara Falls Americans had their regular-season

finale spoiled in a 6-3 loss to the Olean Oilers Sunday night at Bradner Stadium.

In the top of the first, Justin Gladfelter hit a one-out single to left-center field, and two pitches

later, Adam Weiss ripped a single to right field, setting up runners at the corners. Two batters

later, Michael Sabella hit an infield single to the left-side, scoring Gladfelter. Sabella advanced to

second and Weiss moved to third on an errant throw on the play, but both were stranded.

Americans’starter Nate Kroll got two quick outs in the bottom of the inning before allowing

three straight baserunners to reach. Kroll worked out of the jam, however, leaving the bases

loaded.

Olean loaded the bases with two outs in the second and got on the board via a wild pitch, but left

two runners on, leaving the score tied at 1-1.

The Oilers proceeded to leave four runners on base over the next two innings. However, in the

fifth, Aidan Willard and Christo Hunsicker each drew a walk, forcing Kroll from the game with

one out.

Jaxsyn Moritz entered in relief for Kroll, and with runners at second and third and two outs,

Brady Smith laced a two-run single up the middle to break the 1-1 tie.

Kroll tossed four and one-third innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits with five walks

and five strikeouts.

In the sixth, with runners at first and second and one out, Derek Staudt hit a ground ball to

second, but an errant throw to first on a double play attempt allowed Staudt to reach second and

a run to score, giving Olean a 4-1 lead.

Moritz fired two and two-thirds innings out of the bullpen, allowing one unearned run on two

hits with one walk. It was Moritz’s fifth appearance of the season and first without allowing an

earned run.

Khyree Harmon entered in the bottom of the eighth and surrendered two runs on one hit and one

error. He also issued two walks and uncorked a wild pitch that allowed a runner to score. It was

Harmon’s third appearance of the season for the Americans.

Down to their final three outs of the 2026 season, the Americans did not go down easily. Justin

Gladfelter beat out an infield single with one out, and Adam Weiss followed with a single to right

field. Weiss’ hit got by Cooper Tarlie in right, allowing Gladfelter to score and Weiss to advance

to second. Later in the inning, Michael Sabella bounced a double down the right-field line to

score Weiss and cut the deficit to 6-3. The Americans’ rally ended there.

Brady Berdine went the distance for Olean, allowing three unearned runs on eight hits while

walking two and striking out a season-high 10 batters. Making his seventh appearance this

season, Berdine earned his first win at Bradner stadium this year, improving to 4-3.

Nate Kroll suffered the loss for the Niagara Falls in his third appearance of the season, dropping

to 0-3.

Sabella recorded his first multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-4, with a double and two

RBIs. He finished the year on a six-game on-base streak.

Weiss finished 2-for-3 with one RBI, one run scored and one walk.

Gladfelter also went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. He finished with 40 runs scored this season,

tying for fifth in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League.

Tarlie had the only multi-hit game for Olean, finishing 2-for-4.

Olean left plenty of runs on the table, going 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position, but still

earned the victory.

Neither team played sound defensive, combining for seven errors. With four errors Sunday,

Niagara Falls finished the season having committed at least one error in seven straight games,

while Olean committed at least one in each of its final six games.

Olean finished the season 20-18, good for fifth place in the PGCBL West Division, one-half

game shy of a playoff spot.

The Americans finished 13-28, ending the season in eighth place.

Links

PGCBL Box Score

Game Livestream

By: Tom Rook

July 28, 2026