South baseball manufactures opening road win
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville South had only three hits but found creative ways to pick up a 7-4 opening day road win at Lake Shore on April 2.

Two of the Billies' three hits came in a three-run first inning. With two outs, Steve McDermott doubled in Alex Walkowski and Frank Pieri, who were walked. Shane Hurley added a two-strike base hit to bring home McDermott. Chris Couche added a base hit later in the game.

South assistant coach Dave Delisanti said South's four other runs were "manufactured." Pieri scored on a passed ball in the third. The next inning, Walkowski scored on a double steal, and Dan Lynch and Couche scored runs on a fielder's choice error.

Lake Shore retired South's last 10 batters.

Pieri didn't throw great, allowing four earned runs and nine hits and striking out four, but he was backed up by great defensive work from infielders Scott Steimer (shortstop), Walkowski (second), Matt Minervini (third) and Lynch (first).

"We stress at South from the modified up that to win games, you need good pitching and solid defense and that's what we told the kids after the game," said Delisanti. "Frankie did not have his best game but it was good enough. We relied on our defense and guys made plays behind him."

Lake Shore scored one run in the third, two runs in the fifth and another in the seventh.

South's other two games last week, non-leaguers with Cleveland Hill and Albion, were cancelled and have yet to be rescheduled.

The Billies (1-0) return to league play at 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 16 at Hamburg.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com