Weston Ley’s walk-off two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning scored Matt Eaker and Joe Polichetti, as the Coughlan’s Yankees topped the Gowanda Phoenix Lodge 262 Cubs 10-9 on opening day for both squads.

Polichetti (double, three runs) and Dennis Gawronski (RBI) led the Yanks at the plate with two hits each, while Jared Winder scored twice. Ley pitched the eighth inning to earn the victory in relief of Matt Cole and Eaker. The trio struck out 16 Cubs, while allowing only four earned runs.

For the Cubs, Zach Colvin (RBI), Neil Mangan (two RBIs), Stephan Romanik and Cody Vanzile (RBI) each had two hits, while John Greene had a clutch two-out, two run single in the top of the eighth to force the drama in the bottom of the same inning. Ryan Bonnas, Justin Fish and Jake Lewis combined on the hill for the Cubs, striking out 14 Yankees.

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After being shut down by right-hander Doug Clarke (eight strikeouts) for five innings, the Couglan’s Pub Yankees (2-0) broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning to score five runs and down the Steener’s Pub Expos (0-2) 5-1 at Dunkirk High School Field.

The big story for the Yanks was the pitching of Matt Eaker. With the help of errorless defense, the lefty pitched a complete game, six-hitter, struck out nine and walked one. His only blemish was a towering solo home run by the Expos’ Matt Hair (two hits, one a double) in the first inning. Dylan Caldwell also singled twice for the Expos.

The big inning for the Pinstripers was driven by Matt Pantano, Jared Winder, Zach Buckley, Dylan Bennett and Weston Ley, who all scored in the fifth. Joe Polichetti (double) also had two hits in the game.