OBSERVER File Photo Silver Creek’s Zach Rybak fields a pop fly during a game in April against Chautauqua Lake. Rybak shined for the Black Knights in their 6-1 Class C quarterfinal win over Portville on Tuesday, pitching a complete game and smacking an RBI single.

SILVER CREEK — The Silver Creek Black Knights, seeded third, took advantage of getting a Class C quarterfinal baseball game in with questionable weather all day as they were able to defeat the No. 6-seeded Portville Panthers, 6-1, on Tuesday night. Zach Rybak pitched a complete game and Silver Creek had good timely hitting to score its own runs.

Silver Creek got off to a quick start out of the gate with the help of two Portville errors. After Stephen Romanik reached on an error and Sam Mullen walked, Zach Rybak came through with an RBI single, which would be the only hit of the inning. Then, Spencer Harford hit a fly ball to left field that bounced out of the outfielder’s glove to bring Mullen home.

The Black Knights would add another run in the second. Romanik had a deep two out double. Tom Galfo and Mullen each followed with singles.

After the second inning, Portville turned to Maxwell Yehl, an eighth grader to pitch where he would retire all the batters that he faced in the next two innings. Pitching and defense would be the key in the middle innings as there were very few threats to score by either side and defense was perfect as well.

“Portville is a well coached team and you can see that,” said Silver Creek coach Mike Janisch. “(Portville coach Mike Matz) is a true class act where he got the most out of his players and made the changes necessary to get the maximum potential from those kids.”

Portville would get its first run in the top of the sixth. Nathan Kloc and Cameron Lott each received a free pass to lead off the inning and both advanced 90 feet from a wild pitch. DJ Hlasnick would take advantage of that with an RBI single to score Kloc. However, with runners on first and third with no outs, Rybak would get two timely strikeouts and an infield fly to get out of the jam.

Silver Creek would respond with three insurance runs in the bottom half of the inning. After Jon Pulver walked and Romanik advanced on an error, Galfo was able to execute a perfect suicide squeeze. The bunt was perfectly laid down as well and no Panthers were covering first base that Galfo singled on the play as well.

“Tom’s suicide squeeze was a huge part of the game to get us a run and put the momentum back in our favor,” Janisch added. “We have focused more on bunting this week and stressed the importance as it is something that we need to do to be successful.”

On the next pitch, Galfo would steal second and on the throw to second, Romanik would score. Later in the inning, Alex Bogosian came through with an RBI single.

Rybak would come back out in the seventh and finish the game with his ninth strikeout. He pitched a complete game, giving up only one run on three hits and four walks.

“Zach threw more today than any other time this year,” said Janisch. “We had to monitor him, but he is the type of kid that is a gamer in the true sense of the word. He wants to be there in those critical moments.”

Portville starting pitcher Kloc pitched two innings, giving up three runs (one earned) from four hits and a walk. Yehl pitched four innings of relief, surrendering three runs from three hits and two walks while fanning eight.

“Coming into today, we were toying with the idea of throwing Yehl,” said Matz. “He is an eighth grader, and we were unsure of what we would get out of him, but he did better than expected. He has a lot of potential and I am sure that he will continue to grow from this game.”

Hlasnick had the only multiple hit game for the Panthers, while Bogosian and Galfo each recorded two singles for the Black Knights. Romanik had the only extra base hit for either side with a double.

Silver Creek will play Thursday at Cassadaga Valley or at home against Randolph. That game was postponed due to the weather and will be played today.

“Our groundskeepers did an excellent job of getting the field ready for us today and I am truly appreciative of their obligation,” Janisch said. “It was raining all day long so it took a lot of work to be able to get the field ready. This time of year, it is really important to play when scheduled so the pitching rotation can be set.”