The Elmira Pioneers continued their run in the 2010 NYCBL playoffs as they welcomed in the Allegany County Nitros to Dunn Field. The Nitros defeated the Webster Yankees in the best of three series on Sunday. The Pioneers were able to sweep their first round series from the Alfred Thunder.

Aaron Zaleznik made his first start of the playoffs after throwing a 1 hit shutout against the Nitros on July 26th. The Pioneers offense was looking to turn the page as they hit below .200 as a team coming into the second round.

Zaleznik had a rough go of things in the beginning allowing a double to the lead off batter. The Pioneers defense backed up Zaleznik a couple of times throughout the game and were able to keep Allegany of the scoreboard.

The Offense would click in the bottom half of the inning as the bases would be loaded up with Elmira base runners for Ryan Ferguson. Ferguson laced a ball back up the middle scoring 2 runs. Carlos Lopez would follow things up with an RBI single of his own.

Elmira would load up the bases again in the second inning and a run would score after a bases loaded walk to Ryan Ferguson, giving him his third RBI of the night. Leading 4-0 the Pioneers would tack on 2 more runs in the third inning.

The only thing that could have stole the spotlight from the outburst of offense from Elmira was the pitching performance from Aaron Zaleznik. Zaleznik surrendered just two hits over 7 innings as he struck out 4 batters and walked three on the night.

Nate Kowal would get a ground ball out to end the game and preserve the shutout as Elmira takes a 1-0 lead in the series. The 10-0 victory is the biggest shutout win of the season at Dunn Field. The Pioneers were able to put 15 hits on the board and Ryan Ferguson finished the night with 3 RBI. Carlos Lopez and Matt Ford drove in 2 runs apiece and Corey Keller finished the night 4-4.

The Pioneers will head to Scio on Tuesday, August 3rd for game 2 with the first pitch scheduled for 7:00 PM. If the Pioneers are able to earn the victory they will be off until Friday, which would be Game 1 of the NYCBL Championship Series. If a game 3 is necessary between the Pioneers and Nitros it will be on Wednesday, August 4th at 7:00 PM.

Tickets for all home playoff games can be purchased in advance from the Pioneers front office

For more information contact the Pioneers office at 607-734-2690 or visit www.elmirapioneers.com.

This Summer, Have Some Fun at the Dunn!