The Hornell Dodgers used a solid pitching performance by Connor Ryan (Mercyhurst) and the long ball to defeat the Wellsville Nitros 3-0 in the 1st round NYCBL Western Division playoff game. The Dodgers now advance to the Western Division Finals, a best of three series, versus the top seed Olean Oilers.

 

Ryan and Nitro starter Carlos Tejada both kept the opposing offenses at bay for the first three innings. In the 4th, Dylan May (Wofford) lit the scoreboard when he lifted a one- out homer over the left field fence.

 

The Dodgers threatened to add to the lead in the 5th but Michael McNicholl threw out two bases runners at the plate to keep the Hornell lead at 1-0. Wellsville put their first two runners on base in the bottom of the inning but Ryan worked out of the jam.

 

John Ricotta (Monroe CC) made it 2-0 when he sent the second pitch of the 6th inning skipping off the roof of the Wellsville Elementary School. Hornell threatened for more but stranded the bases loaded.

 

In the 8th, the Dodgers added to their lead with a RBI single by Tyler Burns (Trevecca Nazarene). Once again the team threatened for more loading the bases but was unable to add to the lead.

 

Wellsville threatened in the bottom of the 8th putting runners on 1st and 2nd with two outs and NYCBL regular season home run and RBI leader Harry Montero stepping up. Montero put a charge into a fly ball that Adam Fitzgibbon (Saginaw Valley) tracked down and caught at the base of the center field wall.

 

Jake Miller (Lackawanna) came out of the pen for the Dodgers and pitched a scoreless 9th to seal the victory. Hornell turned a nifty 6-4-3 double play to end the contest.

 

Ryan earned the victory with eight shutout innings. He allowed just four singles and one walk while striking out seven Nitros. Miller walked one in his one inning of work. The shutout was the first of the season for the pitching staff.

 

The Dodgers outhit the Nitros 12 to 4 on the day. May led the way with a 3 for 4, 1 RBI day while Mike Wick (Webster), Fitzgibbon, Ricotta, and Ty Reginelli (Wofford) all had two hits. 

 

The Dodgers will travel to Olean on Wednesday for game one of the best of three Western Division Finals. First pitch at Bradner Stadium is at 7 p.m. Game two of the series will be at Maple City Park at 7 p.m. on Thursday while game three (if necessary) will be back in Olean on Friday at 7 p.m.