Austin, Emporium Alle-Catt showdown this Sunday

Austin and Emporium each picked up some momentum last week to carry into Sunday's Alle-Catt Amateur Baseball League showdown on the Emporium diamond at 2 pm.

Pitcher Jesse Whitman went the distance and Josh Cooney delivered a three-run homer to move the Austin Panthers (4-3) past Wellsville, 7-5.

Whitman struck out nine and helped his own cause with three hits. Cooney's big blast broke a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the eighth.

Emporium (6-1) got a solid pitching performance from St. Bonaventure University's Jordan Crane in an 8-1 win over the Olean Oilers.

Crane pitched a two-hitter, striking out six, but he did issue a half-dozen walks in a game shortened to seven innings by wet grounds.

Ralph McKimm's RBI single gave Emporium an early lead. Cameron Clingan made it 2-0 when he singled and came around on two errors.

Ryan Bresslin's bases-loaded single broke open a close game in the fifth. Garrett Hornung added an RBI single and Saul Solveson plated another run with a triple.

League standings: Olean AOH 8-0, Emporium 6-1, Kane 5-2, Port Allegany 4-2, Shinglehouse 4-2, Austin 4-3, Olean Oilers 4-4, Wellsville 4-4, Mt. Jewett Magicians 4-4, Cuba Rebels 3-6, Crosby 2-6, Olean Royals 0-7, Ludlow 0-7.