Mader Construction Wins In Buffalo
July 24, 2011 - Mader Construction won the final two games of their best-of-three championship series to defeat regular season champion Pignataro's. They will now advance to the Altoona regional as the Buffalo, New York representative. They are Buffalo's sixth different representative in six years and will look to qualify for Buffalo's seventh consecutive tournament appearance.
As reported on the AAABA of Buffalo website, Pignataro's won the first game 9-8. Although Pignataro's placed first in the standings, it was their first win against Mader Construction in four tries. Mader held an early lead, scoring twice in their first three batters. Pignataro's scored five in the third, but the Maders retook the lead with 4 in the seventh. Jesse Zellner's single in the bottom of the seventh scored Kyle McLain to tie the game. Both teams echanged 2 runs in the eighth, and Pignataro's won in the bottom of the ninth on a bases-loaded walk.
In the second game, the Maders won 8-4 with Brian Barry tossing a complete game. The score was tight through the opening innings, but a 5-run bottom of the third put Mader Construction on top for good.
In the final game, Pignataro's again took the early lead, but another comeback from Mader Construction put them through to Altoona. Jim Fitzgerald's 2-run home run contributed to a 5-hit, 5-run fourth inning for the Maders, and Tom LoCongo's three-run final inning homer put the score at 8-4. With their season on the line, Pignataro's scored three times in the final half-frame, but Rich Kowalski saved the game for the Maders, recording the final two outs in the 8-7 decision.
Buffalo will be competing in their 17th regional and 9th Altoona regional. The franchise's only championship was at the 1984 Livonia regional, however they have advanced to Johnstown as regional runner-up 5 times. Buffalo has attended the past 6 national tournaments with a record of 7-12 and have advanced through their past two regionals. Buffalo is tied with Johnstown for the most national tournament finals without a championship with five. They were runners-up in 1953, 1964, 1967, 1976, and 1980.