Riley fans seven Cougars as Canton earns first win of year in Tri-State League

Canton pitcher Taylor Riley struck out seven Thursday night as the Crushers won their first game of the season by beating East Mountain.

CANTON, June 1 – Pitcher Taylor Riley gave up just two hits and struck out seven to lead the Canton Crushers baseball to their first win of the season in a 5-2 Tri-State League victory over the East Mountain Cougars Thursday night at Bowdoin Field.

Canton (1-3) had just four hits but they made the most of them to win their first game of the season and beat the Cougars for the third straight year.

The Crushers took a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Mike Zammett doubled and scored on Riley’s two-out double for a 1-0 lead. Riley stole third base and scored on a wild pitch.

In the third inning, the Crushers added another two runs. Ben Sullivan led off with a walk and Jim Spirito reached on an error. Sean Allaire singled to load the bases. One run scored on a fielder’s choice by Zammett and a second run scored on Sean Bahre’s RBI single for a 4-0 lead.

Canton extended the lead to 5-0 in the fifth inning. With one out, Allaire reached on an error, stole second base and third base. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Heath Cotton.

For East Mountain (1-2), pitcher Ty Campbell went the distance allowing just four hits and striking out five.

Canton will look for its second victory on Sunday when they hosts Amenia, N.Y. (1-2) at 4 p.m. at Bowdoin Field.

Canton 5, East Mountain 2
At Canton
East Mountain (1-2)          000  002 – 2-2-2
Canton (1-3)                     022  010 — 5-4-3
Ty Campbell and Justin Proteau; Taylor Riley and Jeff Mulhall; WP: Riley (1-1); LP: Campbell; 2B: Riley (C), Mike Zammett (C)