Richards’s Complete Game Brings Pios Victory Over Americans

By Anthony La Bonté

NIAGARA FALLS, NY—Luke Richards’s shutout seven frame would give the Elmira Pioneers the victory in game one of the Niagara Falls Americans doubleheader, 13-0, before dropping game two at Sal Maglie Stadium Sunday.

In the first contest Richards would throw just 80 pitches to strike out five while only allowing four baserunners in the game—two walked and two hits. That allowed the hot bats of the Pioneers to start building up the score, including a Tysan Gingerich solo home run in the top of the second inning. 25 total times a batter would reach, with the top of the seventh seeing one left stranded but six get to home.

Game two saw the Americans get their first runs of the day in the bottom of the first inning, putting three across. Kevin Prosceo would throw just four innings where four walks were issued, six hits gained, five runs earned and eight struck out.

Entering into the fifth inning the Pioneers were trailing 5-2, before four runs were scored on a bases clearing double by Brandon Doubek and a one run triple hit by Michael Gardner. 6-5 in the top of the seventh, the Pioneers added an insurance run via a wild pitch that sent home Alex Davis. In the bottom of the seventh, however, two runs would be scored by Niagara Falls to go into overtime. Even with the ghost runner the Pioneers were not able to score, and a well-placed bunt by the Americans’ Alex Glasscock, that caused a throwing error, allowed a man to score and let Niagara Falls walk it off in the eighth inning.

The next game for the Pioneers will be on Tuesday, June 30, with a road contest against the Newark Pilots. The next game being played at Historic Dunn Field will be Thursday, July 2, against the Auburn Doubledays with a fireworks show after the game presented by Weis Markets. For ticket information call (607) 734-2690.