On May 17, the Bradford baseball team opened its inaugural season in the Southwestern New York Men’s Baseball League with a win at home.
Three months later, Bradford completed its inaugural season in the league the same way — a win at home. This time, the win gives Bradford the title every player wants to hear “League Champions.”
Casey Vincent allowed just two hits over five innings as Bradford defeated Olean 10-6 Sunday afternoon at Kessel Athletic Complex at the University of Pitt-Bradford to win its second championship in as many seasons.
A season ago, Bradford defeated Emporium in the Alle-Catt baseball league championship but decided to leave that league for the Southwestern New York circuit in the offseason. It meant more travel as the team would no longer be playing the likes of Emporium, Crosby and Smethport. The team would now be playing Fillmore, Arcade and Portville, among others. The travel would be a little farther in general, and the players would have to cross the state line for every road game but manager Bob Matzner jumped at the opportunity to switch leagues.
On Aug. 16, 2014, Bradford won the Alle-Catt League title. Exactly one year to the day later, Bradford won the Southwestern New York Men’s League crown.
Bradford, the No. 2 seed, got a three-run homer from Connor Borowski in the first inning and led 3-0 before an out was recorded on its side. That was Borowski’s only hit of the day.
“Connor started it off right for us,” Matzner said. “His three-run home run got us scoring right away.”
A week ago, in the 9-0 semifinal win over Portville-Cuba, Borowski had a two-run double in the first inning for Bradford, so he’s been accountable for five runs in the first inning alone for Bradford in its last two playoff games.
John Zamites scored in the top of the second inning for Olean, but Bradford responded right away with a pair of runs to push the lead to 5-1. Catcher BJ Salerno ripped a two-run single to score Cory Sudbrook and Doug Atteberry.
Over the next two innings No. 4 seed Olean crept closer, getting the score to 5-4 heading to the bottom of the fifth inning. Gregor Greer scored twice in that span, and Trent Unverdorben added a run on a fielder’s choice. Greer was the only Olean hitter in the game who had more than one hit, as Olean had just five hits off Bradford pitching.
Garren Black, Kyle George and Tyler Gonzales had a hit each for Olean, which eliminated defending league champion Fillmore in the semifinals.
Bradford scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 10-4 lead. Sudbrook (3-for-3, 2 runs) had a two-run double, and Doug Atteberry followed that with a two-run single to pace Bradford in the five-run inning.
“Cory and Doug broke it open for us,” Matzner said. “That was a big inning — huge for us.”
Olean added a pair of runs in the seventh to pull within 10-6, but Gonzales’ groundout was handled by first baseman Cody Vincent, who recorded the final out.
Kyle Hunt, Zach Foster and Atteberry (two runs, two RBI) each had two hits for Bradford.
Vincent earned the win for Bradford with five innings of two-hit ball.
He allowed four runs (three earned) but was plagued by the walk, as he issued six free passes. Nick Foster pitched the last two innings, allowing two runs on three hits.
“Casey threw well for us all game,” Matzner said, noting he was taken out after five innings due to a blister on his toe. “And Foster threw well; a lot of people have trouble with the sidearm. They can’t see it.”
Kyle George took the loss for Olean, allowing nine runs on nine hits and four walks over 4 1/3 innings. He was relieved by Unverdorben, who finished the game allowing one unearned run on three hits. He walked one and struck out one.
“We enjoyed this league,” Matzner said of his team’s first-year experience. “It was a very fun league. We’re looking forward to next year.”
Next year, however, Bradford won’t be the league rookie; it will be the team everyone is looking to dethrone.
-Olean (N.Y.) Times Herald
