Gowanda Merchants split final two games
Friday August 10, 2012 | By:Mark Benton | Sports
FASTBALL -— Gowanda Merchant pitcher Jeff Johnson throws a fastball for a strike against the Yankees in a game played at Panther Park on Aug. 6. The Merchants now enter the playoffs as the four-time defending champions. (Photo by Mark Benton)
The Gowanda Merchants Baseball Team split their final two games on the regular season against the Yankees. Gowanda won the first game on Aug. 3 by a score of 10-6 but lost 2-1 three nights later. Both games were played at Panther Park in Gowanda.In the opening game, neither team played well defensively and most of the runs were unearned. The two teams played again on Monday night, Aug. 6 to complete a game that was rained out previously. The Yankees from the Dunkirk/Fredonia area was the designated home team for that contest.
Neither team could mount much of an offensive attack as the game remained scoreless through the first three-and-a-half innings. Finally, a bloop single to right by the Yankees plated two runs. The Merchants could only counter with one run over the last three at bats and took the hard-luck loss.
Jeff Johnson pitched a complete game, six-hitter for the Merchants. Gowanda also collected six hits of their own. The loss put the Merchants final regular season record at 7-4-1, good for second place.
The playoffs were to begin on Friday, Aug. 10. The Merchants will host the Giants in a single-elimination format. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. Gowanda will be defending their title as four-time playoff champions. The Jamestown Mets will enter the playoffs as the number-one-seeded team and the squad that the Merchants hope to over take for a five-peat.
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
