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Olean Oilers fall short
It was a bright sunny day inside historic Bradner Stadium as the Olean Oilers took the field Saturday. I could not help but think how thankful I was to be covering the young but history filled Oilers inside their home. The stadium has hosted some of the greatest ballplayers to ever play the game of baseball. Over recent years the team has called this stadium home. The local crowd certainly came out to support some of the best players in college baseball. Although there was a lot of local events, the crowd knew Dylan Vincent and the rest of the team could put on a show. Saturday evening was the first primetime game of 2019. Brian O’Connell Jr and the Olean Oilers met Thad Johnson and the Genesee Rapids.
The Oilers battled but fell short losing 10-4 in front of a crowd of 505 fans. Despite the quite warm temperatures that pushed 80 degrees, the players and coaching staff were buzzing with excitement to play ball. The season got off to a great start with a dominating win Friday against NYCBL newcomer Mansfield.
Tyler Robinson and the Oilers defense were off the field after retiring the side in three. In the bottom of the first, Olean native Dylan Vincents walked and then the drama started. Ryan Simmons came to the plate took the 2-1 count. Vincent got involved in a hotbox attempting to steal second and got caught stealing. Eventually, Simmons ended up walking before Jacob Victor struck out. Simmons reached second on a steal and then he would be stranded at second after Mason Nadolney was put out.
In the top of the second, Jaylon Lee singled for Genesee. A fly out and a double play would leave him on base. In the bottom of the frame, Frank Wayman reached base on a balk and was halted. Olean threatened in the bottom of the third but left three on base.
The Rapids changed the game by earning four RBI in the fourth. On the flip side of the fourth, Frank Wayman and Daniel Stauffer added two runs. Stauffer was hit by a pitch and Wayman capitalized by going deep making it 4-2 Genesee. Victor singled in the fifth, Nadolney walked and eventually they both scored. Victor scored on a passed ball and Adam Moore singled to bring Nadolney home.
In the top half of the sixth Andrew Hanna from Genesee recorded a walk bringing Javier Santiago home. The Oilers bats were halted for the remainder of the night and Genesee would score five in the eighth. The Olean pitching staff really held their own and so did the offense. Genesee moved runners a tad more to come out victorious.
The Oilers will host Hornell Tuesday at 5 PM.
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