FEATURE GAME – Falcons prey on Cobra relief pitching; O’Brien flies high
The Niagara Falls Falcons beat the St. Catharines Cobras 6-1 and improved to a perfect 4-0 away from Oakes Park and 5-4 overall.
In what could have been defined as a pitcher’s duel until the sixth inning, Tyler O’Brien of the Falcons would deliver seven strong innings of one-run ball for his first win of the season
“I was just pounding in the fastball tonight,” O’Brien said. “It’s really easy to go pitch with the guys behind me, their making all the plays. It’s making me confident to go out and hit the strike zone.”
St. Catharines had runners on base in all but one inning but scattered their hits, their lone run of the game was generated on a walk in the final frame of the game before O’Brien struck out the next two batters. The defense behind the right hander was spectacular, converting two consecutive inning-ending double plays in the fourth and fifth innings.
“That’s kind of what we’ve built our team around over the year is defense,” Falcons manager, John Hiltz said. “We’ve had a couple well-pitched games this year and (O’Brien) did a great job. He was hitting his spots and wasn’t overpowering but he changes speeds really well. He pitched a very good game.”
O’Brien’s counterpart, Ryan Gacnik also turned in a quality start. When he left the game in the sixth, the Cobras were trailing 2-0 and Gacnik in large part, kept them in the game.
“It was a good pitcher’s game,” Hiltz said. “It went back and forth and we couldn’t find that hit to break it open for the longest time. But, it was a good game the score wasn’t indicative by any stretch.”
In the second inning, Gacnik hit designated hitter Ethan Claydon in the helmet with a fastball. Claydon would stay in the game but would get the last laugh by scoring the game’s first run. From there, Falcons would do most of their damage in the sixth.
Offensively, Vito Scaringi for Niagara Falls was the star of the game. He was two-for-two with two walks a run scored and an RBI from the eighth spot. Eric Marriott, Quinton Spagnol, Darin Geska, Nic Cook and Joe Scaringi also scored runs for the Falcons, with Marriott driving in two and Geska driving in another in the sixth off relief pitcher, James Spence.
“Their base running was good,” Cobras manager, Frank Iker said. “The Falls, they’re a very good fundamental team. They take their extra bases and they do it well. Full value for their win tonight.”
With the loss, the Cobras fall to 2-9, effectively ending their playoff chances. Iker said that his team has a solid foundation and he believes they’re currently on the rise despite their current struggles.
“It just unravelled,” Iker said. “That’s an example of other games we’ve played this year where we’ve been in tight ball games and we have that one breakdown inning. Sometimes the pitcher and the defense breakdown at the same time.”
Next up for the Cobras is a matchup against the Welland Chiefs on Wednesday night at Welland Stadium.
Falcons will not wait as long to play again as they will head to Welland Stadium as well for a date with the Rose City Thorns on Friday with their road record in contention.
LAST OUT
Friday – Niagara Falls Falcons Juniors; Niagara Falls Expos (PPD)
Friday – Thorold Fantoms; Rose City Thorns (PPD)
Sunday – Rose City Thorns 10; Niagara Falls Falcons Juniors 6
Sunday – Fort Erie Cannons; St. Catharines Cobras (PPD)
Tuesday – Rose City Thorns; Thorold Fantoms (PPD)
Wednesday – Niagara Falls Falcons Juniors 6; St. Catharines Cobras 1
Wednesday – Niagara Falls Expos 7; Welland Chiefs 1
ON DECK
Friday – Thorold Fantoms @ Niagara Falls Expos; 6:00 p.m.; Oakes Park (NF)
Friday – Niagara Falls Falcons Juniors @ Rose City Thorns; 7:00 p.m.; Welland Stadium
Friday – Merritton Alliance @ Niagara Falls Expos; 7:30 p.m.; Oakes Park (NF)
Sunday – Rose City Thorns @ Niagara Falls Expos; 1:00 p.m.; Oakes Park (NF)
Tuesday – Fort Erie Cannons @ Merritton Alliance; 7:30 p.m.; George Taylor Field
Tuesday – Welland Chiefs @ Thorold Fantoms 7:30 p.m.; McMillan Park
Wednesday – St. Catharines Cobras @ Welland Chiefs; 7:30 p.m.; Welland Stadium
Wednesday – Niagara Falls Expos @ Fort Erie Cannons; 8:00 p.m.; Oakes Park (FE)