Buffalo East Coast Orville’s used 14 hits, including a two-run blast by Carmen Panaro, in a 9-4 victory over Johnstown Martella’s Pharmacy in Thursday night’s elimination bracket contest in front of 2,313 fans at Sargent’s Stadium at the Point.
Panaro, a Niagara University signee, also pitched four strong innings in relief to earn 4-0 Buffalo a spot in the semifinal round of the 79th AAABA Tournament.
Buffalo will play Altoona-1 Cumming Motors at noon at the Point on Friday. The other semifinal will pair Johnstown-2 Mainline Pharmacy and Columbus TNT Knights at 7:30 at Sargent’s Stadium.
Buffalo outhit Johnstown 14-7 and scored four runs in the seventh and added an insurance tally in the eighth to hold off the host city squad. Martella’s Pharmacy finished 2-2.