A's outlast Merchants in extra innings
Friday August 3, 2012 | By:Mark Benton | Sports
The Dunkirk A's came to Gowanda on Friday, July 27 to take on the Gowanda Merchants in a Mens' Senior Baseball League game.
The first pitch was thrown at 6:15 p.m. However, when the final out was recorded, darkness had fallen and the lights were on at Panther Field. The game had gone into extra innings with the A's outlasting the home team by a score of 12-11.
It wasn't a normal game for Gowanda, winners of the last four league championships. Their top pitcher, Rick Johnson, who has been dominant over the past four seasons, was absent. Several other regulars were also missing in action. Their oldest player/coach, Mike Hutchinson (61 years young) was forced into the lineup but held his own in right field. However, when a Merchant player had to leave the game as it went into extra innings, it was too much to overcome. Gowanda finished the encounter with just two outfielders.
Gowanda made the best of a difficult situation and played hard until the end. The Merchants had two men on base when the final out, a line drive to left field. ended the three-hour affair.
Jeff Johnson started on the mound and pitched as well as expected. He also collected two hits in the contest. Justin Fish and Peter Mangels also recorded multiple hit games for the Gowanda.
The Merchants' next home game was scheduled against the Dunkirk Yankees #2 team on July 31. The Yankees' #2 team is composed of mostly a father/son combination. The team's manager is former highly successful Pine Valley High School baseball coach Charlie LaDuca.
The first pitch was thrown at 6:15 p.m. However, when the final out was recorded, darkness had fallen and the lights were on at Panther Field. The game had gone into extra innings with the A's outlasting the home team by a score of 12-11.
It wasn't a normal game for Gowanda, winners of the last four league championships. Their top pitcher, Rick Johnson, who has been dominant over the past four seasons, was absent. Several other regulars were also missing in action. Their oldest player/coach, Mike Hutchinson (61 years young) was forced into the lineup but held his own in right field. However, when a Merchant player had to leave the game as it went into extra innings, it was too much to overcome. Gowanda finished the encounter with just two outfielders.
Gowanda made the best of a difficult situation and played hard until the end. The Merchants had two men on base when the final out, a line drive to left field. ended the three-hour affair.
Jeff Johnson started on the mound and pitched as well as expected. He also collected two hits in the contest. Justin Fish and Peter Mangels also recorded multiple hit games for the Gowanda.
The Merchants' next home game was scheduled against the Dunkirk Yankees #2 team on July 31. The Yankees' #2 team is composed of mostly a father/son combination. The team's manager is former highly successful Pine Valley High School baseball coach Charlie LaDuca.
More stories
N. Buffalo basketball league is back with array of local teams
North Buffalo is back on the summer basketball league map.The Robert Ryan/North...
ADD A COMMENTBe the first to Comment
