By Tim Schmitt
NIAGARA FALLS — Maybe a little football mentality was all the Niagara Power needed to respond from its first setback of the New York Collegiate Baseball League season.
After getting whitewashed 12-0 on Saturday, the Power bounced back with a football-like showing on Sunday, kicking field goals in each of the first three innings en route to a comfortable 12-5 victory in the opening game of a doubleheader against Hornell. Unfortunately, the Power couldn’t play the second half as well as the first at Sal Maglie Stadium, dropping the nightcap 9-5 before a crowd of over 300.
Tennyson Dodd’s two-run hit in the first got Niagara off and running in the opener, and the fun didn’t stop there — the hosts posted three runs in the first, second, third and fifth innings. That was all that emerging staff ace Shelby Robertson needed to run his record to 2-0. Robertson scattered nine hits and fanned seven in the longest outing of his pitching career — seven and two-thirds inning.
“That’s his second great start in a row. He just did a great job,” Power manager Sam Kirby said of Robertson’s outing. “He challenged guys, coming inside on them and what impressed me the most about Shelby was the way he worked from his last start to this start. He took nothing for granted and he absolutely worked his tail off in the last four days.”
The top of the lineup did all the damage in the opener as leadoff man Jake Gill scored three times, No. 2 hitter Jacan Warren had three hits and three runs, Travis Latz followed with a pair of hits and a pair of RBIs, and Dodd added four RBIs from the fifth slot.
“We came in today with the right mentality. These guys want to improve so bad. They’re gamers,” Kirby said.
In the nightcap, it looked like the Power might get the sweep after posting three runs in the third to take a 3-2 edge.
But Hornell (2-4) responded with five runs in the fourth, including a key hit from Starpoint product Derek Speaker, who made his only hit of the afternoon a double.
Power starter Anthony Powell fought through five innings, but gave up seven earned runs on as many hits.
Chris Kuenzle saw his second relief appearance of the day as he took over for Powell and gave up one earned run in three innings of work.
At the plate, Dodd had the biggest hit for Niagara (4-2), connecting for a two-run single in the third to finish with six RBIs on the evening.
Niagara has today off before Tuesday’s matchup with reigning NYCBL champ Brockport at Maglie. That contest — Niagara Gazette night at the park — will have the first pitch at 7 p.m.
Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.
