2017 Buffalo Nationals Make It Two Years Out of Last Three in Buffalo (NY) MABL

Buffalo (NY) MABL

Buffalo Nationals 13, Snappers 1 (Game three)

Submitted by Daniel Wise, Buffalo Nationals

The Buffalo Nationals have won their second Buffalo MABL title in three years. Matt Truitt led a pitching staff that sported a 3.03 ERA with 136 Ks. With the outstanding pitching staff, the fielding was buoyed by outfielders Joe Robison, Dan Wise, and Andrew Wise and the infield was led by catcher Eddie Shantler, first baseman Kevin Prentice, second baseman Tim Shantler, shortstop Bobby Mirando, third baseman Kevin Zielinski and utility man Nick Vandervoort. Leading the explosive offensive attack to 191 runs on the year were Alex Korzaniewski and Billy Wise. The team combined for a +109 run differential, .830OPS, and 59 stolen bases.

The Nationals put together an excellent regular season with a 13-3 record. In the playoffs, the team made quick work of the Amherst Expos torching them for 11 runs in game one of the series and then coasting to victory in Game two to take the series. Pitcher Matt Truitt pitched seven innings in the series allowing one run on two hits.

In the three game championship series, the Nationals dropped Game one to theSnappers by a score of 2-1. Resilient to the end, the Nationals battled back to take Game two of the series and send it to a winner take all game three. Game three featured a pitcher’s duel beaten the league’s two aces, Aaron Andsel of the Snappers and Matt Truitt of the Nationals. Fans were treated to a pitcher’s duel for the ages in the first five innings as the game remained tied 1-1 into the sixth inning. However, in the sixth inning the Nationals exploded for six runs followed by another six runs in the seventh. The Nationals won the game and the championship by a score of 13-1.