Tigers win three of four opening league games
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

The Amherst Central baseball team showed they could be one of the better teams in ECIC Division III by winning three of its first four league games of the season.

The Tigers (4-3, 3-1) won road games at Depew, 5-2, and Tonawanda, 6-0, on Monday, April 21 and Tuesday, April 22, and came back to beat Cheektowaga, 5-4, in the bottom of the seventh last Thursday at Amherst. The Tigers were winning its other league game at Maryvale last Wednesday but fell 9-5. Amherst is a half game behind Maryvale and Pioneer for first place in ECIC III.

"To come out 3-1 with the first three games on the road, I couldn't ask any more of them," said Amherst coach Brian Davis.

The Cheektowaga win was the most significant as the Warriors are the defending division champions.

Trailing, 4-2, in the bottom of the seventh, Amherst scored three times to rally for the victory. Brandon Jeffords hit a ground ball to third base that went through the third baseman's legs and into left field, scoring Geoff Gallson and Alex Dusenberry. Two batters later, designated hitter Mike Gruttadauria (2 for 3) hit a 2-2 pitch back to the Cheektowaga pitcher, who overthrew the first baseman, and allowed Jeffords to score from second for the game-winning run.

Dusenberry went 3 for 4 and scored twice. Derek Duke hit 2 for 3, including a triple, and scored a run.

Andrew Hays pitched a complete game six-hitter, allowed four earned runs, and walked three to earn the win.

Amherst was in control against Depew and Tonawanda.

The Tigers went up 3-0 on Depew in the third and added two more runs in the fifth. James Gould singled in Hays and Phil Cultrara and Jeffords grounded out to the shortstop on back to back plays to score Gallson and Gould, respectively. In the fifth, Gallson led off with a single and scored on a wild pitch and Gould singled, got to second on a wild pitch, to third on a passed ball and scored on an RBI double by Jeffords. Gould and Gallson each hit 2 for 3.

Hays threw a complete game five-hitter, allowed two runs, one earned run, struck out four and walked four for his first win of the season.

Mike Yanity almost threw a no-hitter against Tonawanda, going 7.1 innings before allowing a hit. He finished with a two-hitter, six strikeouts, and a walk.

"He forced Tonawanda into a lot of fly outs and did a good job of changing up speeds and getting them out on their front foot to pop up balls or hit to ground balls," said Davis. "The defense also played good behind him."

Amherst scored a run in the first, second and sixth and three in the fourth. In the fourth, Gould singled in Cultrara and Dusenberry singled in Ben Gaughan and Gould.

Dusenberry finished 4 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Jeffords hit 2 for 3, including a sacrifice bunt late in the game that led to Amherst's final run. Gaughan went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Amherst didn't play its best against Maryvale and almost snuck out with a win. The Tigers extended a 1-0 lead in the fourth after Jeffords, on a 2-2 count, doubled home Gaughan, Gallson and Gould.

However, Maryvale tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom half of the fourth and after Hays scored on a passed ball in the fifth, the Flyers scored five times in the bottom of the fifth to put the game away.

"The better team won," said Davis. "They swung away and their pitchers threw strikes."

Gaughan went 2 for 3 with a RBI and a run scored.

During spring recess, Amherst lost at Grand Island, 11-3.

Duke, Jeffords and Zach Willett each scored a run. Willett went 2 for 2. Amherst finished with eight hits.

Amherst played at Pioneer on Tuesday but the result was unavailable before The Bee went to press. They play at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Starpoint and host Grand Island at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and Williamsville East at 3 p.m. on Saturday.