HORNELL – Saturday night was quite possibly the last chance the Dodgers could have to make a last push towards the postseason, next week.

It all hindered on another game elsewhere in NYCBL play, in Olean, where the Oilers returned home after playing a doubleheader into late Saturday morning with the Rome Generals at Houghton College, with the last pitch of the night being thrown at 2:37 a.m.

Before their contest against the Genesee Rapids ended at Maple City Park, their fate was determined by the Oilers, as they went on to defeat the Mansfield Destroyers by an 8-4 count to officially eliminate both the Rapids and Dodgers from playoff contention.

As for their contest in Hornell, despite a extravagant outing from Hornell native Spencer Weyand on the mound for the Dodgers, the Rapids made one last rally in the top of the eighth to chase him out of the game, scoring three huge runs to provide a third and final lead change to earn the 4-2 victory in their last head-to-head meeting of the season.

Weyand's stellar effort began after a lengthy first inning of play, as Genesee (17-23-1) put the pressure on right away with two runners reaching on back-to-back walks, but he managed to get the Dodgers off the field with his arm, picking up all three outs via strikeout.

From there, a defensive battle ensued the next two innings of play, as three of the four frames of baseball saw each defense get off the field in a hurry behind a 1-2-3. But the Rapids would be the first team to find the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. 

After Brett Lindsay reached on a lead-off to single, two outs would be recorded before Jose Ramos brought him in on one of his two RBI hits in the game, his first on a single into left field. 

The Dodgers (15-23-2) offense would stay frozen at the plate for the next three innings of play before they reached the scoreboard themselves, as they scored two big runs in the bottom of the seventh. With a lead-off walk issued to Andrew Littlefield, he activated his legs all the way around the bases on Colin Johnson's RBI triple over the head of Lucas Thomeier in left, and to the fence, tying the game at one.

Johnson wound up on third, and then ultimately came home to score on a pair of at-bats later in the Hornell lineup, as Sean Flannery flew out to Michael Sorowice in right field to give the Dodgers their first, and only lead of the night after seven innings of play.

But it was not long after that the Rapids took the lead back for good, as they managed to get after Weyand on the mound with three big runs, two of them coming on one hit, as Andrew Geisey delivered a big one-out single up the middle into center field, plating both Andrew Hanna and Ray Tricarico to give them a 3-2 lead.

A piece of insurance found its way across, as Geisey scored on a deep triple by Ramos to left field, sealing the deal for Jack Powell to enter the game, and provide a two-inning save for the Rapids.

Hornell totaled two runs on seven hits at the plate, with Johnson leading the way with a pair. Matt Martinez, Nick Wimmers, Josh Laurie, Jon-Michael Allelo, and Jack Henby all had a hit to chip in. On the hill, Weyand finished the night going into the eighth inning, handing out eight chairs and walking three in his final start of the season.

The Dodgers season will officially come to a close Sunday afternoon, as they host a pair of nine-inning contests beginning at 1 p.m. right back at Maple City Park, taking on the Mansfield Destroyers first before concluding the last day of the season with the Niagara Power at 5 p.m.

Genesee      000 100 030 – 4 7 0
Hornell       000 000 200 – 2 7 0   

GEN – Matthew Callahan (WP) (3K, BB), Jack Powell (S, 8), and Andrew Geisey.
HOR – Spencer Weyand (LP) (8K, 3BB), Jon Ward (8) (K), and Nick Wimmers.