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COLLEGIATE BASEBALL: DeFratus pitches first Power shutout

By Tim Schmitt Greater Niagara Newspapers

NIAGARA FALLS— Niagara Power Steven DeFratus can reportedly throw from three arm slots. On Saturday evening at Sal Maglie Stadium, it didn’t matter what slot DeFratus was coming from, the result was consistent failure by the Bolivar lineup. DeFratus allowed eight hits and struck 10 as the Power trimmed the A’s 3-0 in a New York Collegiate Baseball League contest. It was the first shutout in the brief history of the Power. “Just unbelievable,” Power Sam Kirby said of DeFratus’ performance. “I thought about taking him out, but he stayed down in the zone and he really deserved that shutout.” DeFratus, who upped his record to 1-1 on the year, used an effective mix of and breaking pitches from a variety of arm angles. “That sidearm has its days, but today it was very effective,” the Cal State-Northridge senior-to-be said. After getting into jams in the first and fifth , DeFratus really settled in. In fact, the right-hander struck out the side in the seventh and seemingly improved throughout the evening. “My arm felt great and it was getting stronger,” he said. “I was just trying to let them get themselves out, but tonight I had a little extra something.” For a while it looked as if DeFratus and A’s starter Mark Putney would be locked down in a pitcher’s dual, but Niagara catcher Clayton Snodgrass broke the ice in the bottom of the fifth when he and Jon Dziomba completed a beautifully executed -and-. Dziomba walked to start the frame and Snodgrass then roped a down the right-field line to score the St. Joe’s graduate. “We executed a lot of small ball things and that’s what wins you the close games,” Kirby said. The Power (6-3) added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth when Trey Karlen, who had three hits on the night, placed a back to reliever Michael Imbriale. Imbriale then threw the ball into left field, allowing Alec Cabello and Seve Alvarez to score. Landis Wilson, Chris Martinez and Snodgrass each had a pair of hits in the win. Putney took the loss, despite allowing just one run over seven innings of work for the A’s (1-7). The Power return to action at 1 p.m. today when they play the Webster Yankees at Monroe Community College. Tuesday’s 7 p.m. game against Geneva opens a three-game homestand for Niagara. Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, Ext. 2262.

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Photos

070616 power - sports/gnn Dan cappellazzo/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Niagara Falls, N.Y. - Niagara Power? John Dziomba is greeted by teammates after crossing the plate for Niagara? first run in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Bolivar A? Saturday evening at Sal Maglie Stadium. Dziomba was driven in by a hit from Clayton Snodgrass who was tagged out at third on the play.

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