Big congratulations to the Tri-City ValleyCats as they shutout Batavia in a tight, 1-0 game.
Jake Buchanan is your hero, as he threw 7IP, 3H/0ER, 6K:1BB with Mike Ness getting the final six outs, striking out three and hitting one batter.
In the bottom of the 1st, Buchanan allowed a leadoff single to Chris Edmondson, but rolled up a double play to end the threat. It went back and forth, with no batter from either team getting past first base until the top of the 4th, when Adam Bailey doubled to right, scoring Tyler Burnett - who came around from first.
And that was it. Batavia, in a style so reminiscent of my middle school years, didn't get past first base, but obviously - with a 1-0 lead - it wasn't ever safe, particularly in the 9th. With Mike Ness throwing his second inning in relief, he got Yunier Castillo to fly out to left before hitting Edmondson with the pitch, bringing up Victor Sanchez and the dreaded Nick Longmire - both of whom were hitting well over .300. Ness got Sanchez swinging, and caught Longmire looking to end the game, and the series.
The ValleyCats will play Brooklyn at home on Saturday to open the NYPL Championship.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
