SALAMANCA — The Salamanca Lizards began their NYCBL 2025 season with a bang, defeating the Dansville Gliders 11-1 with a strong performance from starting pitcher Dylan Kinney on Tuesday, June 11.

Kinney went six innings with one earned run, striking out seven while giving up five hits. The top Lizard batters were third baseman Gabe Roth (1-2, three RBIs) and right fielder Matt Smith (2-4, three RBIs). But the game wasn’t defined by who had the most hits, Dansville had six to the Lizards four. It was won with walks, Salamanca got 13 free bases with five players having two or more walks.

It was never a competitive game, the Lizards led from the start. After Kinney pitched a scoreless first inning, Smith hit a two-RBI double to make it 2-0.

Salamanca would then add on to their lead in the third inning. A Roth groundout brought in a run, and Salamanca graduate Harley Hoag delivered for the hometown fans with a two-RBI double that hit off the left center field fence, making the lead 5-0.

With the lead established, the Lizards continued to be aggressive. Kinney was taken out after the Gliders finally scored in the sixth inning, but Salamanca was far from done.

Roth hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh and Connor Smith walked with the bases loaded to make it 7-1. Smith would have a no hit game, but he still scored three runs off of four walks.

The rest of the contest was simple, Salamanca added four runs in the eighth to win by mercy rule while Santino Musone pitched two scoreless innings in relief. Hoag finished 1-3 with two RBIs.

The Lizards won a game against the Hitmen on June 12, but have lost three with a tie since with their first loss being a 3-0 shutout on Friday to the Dansville Gliders.

It was a completely different game compared to the last time the two teams played. This time Glider starting pitcher Seth Whitney helped make the Lizards lifeless. He threw six innings with two hits allowed. He only struck out two, but efficiency was certainly on his side.

Dansville also picked up two early runs to establish the lead. A Glider single and a Lizard error helped get Dansville into scoring position in the first inning, another single brought the run in. Then a two out double brought in a runner at first base in the second.

Salamanca starter Kolden McCall pitched six innings with eight hits and two earned runs. He wasn’t the problem for Salamanca, but not enough hitting was.

Even though the Lizards could get contact throughout their lineup, they couldn’t get on base. Walks weren’t even a factor, drawing three all game. A stark contrast compared to 13 that they drew on Monday.

The best shot they had was in the eighth inning, when a single and two walks loaded the bases with just one out. But that didn’t even produce anything, with two popouts ending the opportunity in dull fashion.

Lizard reliever Nate Tyler pitched four scoreless innings to finish the game for Salamanca. Still, the Lizards came away with their first loss of the young 2025 season.

The Lizards (2-3-1) will play at home at 6:30 p.m. against the Genesee Rapids.

Salamanca native Harley Hoag is back with his hometown team in the second season of Salamanca Lizards baseball in the NYCBL.