Buffalo Diesel drive through the rain for third NABF World Series championship

Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer
·2 min read

First, Buffalo had to best a field of some of the best amateur baseball teams in the country.

Then, the Diesel had to take on the weather.

The New York team was able to come out on top in both cases and the Buffalo Diesel became National Amateur Baseball Federation champions for the third time.

Pitcher Joe DiLeo of the Buffalo Diesel throws a fastball against the Lombard Orioles during the championship game at C.O. Brown Stadium on Sunday, August 7, 2022.
Pitcher Joe DiLeo of the Buffalo Diesel throws a fastball against the Lombard Orioles during the championship game at C.O. Brown Stadium on Sunday, August 7, 2022.

In a rain-shortened contest, Buffalo defeated the Lombard (Ill.) Orioles, 4-3, on Sunday in the championship game of the 108th NABF Charles Blackburn Major Division World Series at MCCU Field at C.O. Brown Stadium.

"Our boys came to Battle Creek on a mission. We wanted this and the boys battled, it's awesome. It's been a little bit, but we finally got our third," said Diesel manager Paul Wolf as his team also won in 2015 and 2017.

Buffalo had broken open a close game in the sixth inning when Zach Jordan came up with a bases-loaded single to drive in two runs, followed by an RBI single by Corey Paige for a 7-3 lead.

Then, the rains came.

After an  hour delay and with the field conditions decidedly unplayable, the championship game was called and reverted back to the last full inning, giving the Diesel the 4-3 win and the 2022 championship.

"It's not how we wanted to win it, with the rain," Wolf said. "But we had just gone up 7-3, we were beating them up pretty good at that point. We had 14 hits, they had just three. We had all of our pitching left. We felt like we had the game pretty much in control."

Buffalo starting pitcher Joe DiLeo was the winning pitcher in the championship game.

Nick Jasinski and catcher Tom LaCongo shared tournament MVP honors.

Marc DiLeo from the Buffalo Diesel goes to tag Andy Gayton from the Lombard Orioles during the championship game at C.O. Brown Stadium on Sunday, August 7, 2022.
Marc DiLeo from the Buffalo Diesel goes to tag Andy Gayton from the Lombard Orioles during the championship game at C.O. Brown Stadium on Sunday, August 7, 2022.

Jasinski, who has been on all three national championship teams, recalls coming up short in the final last year to back-to-back champ Berea (Ohio).

"We have been thinking about getting this chance again since last year," Jasinski said. "We were up 6-0 after two innings last year and then they put it on us. So we came back on a mission this year. We have been here, been here a lot of times. We have veterans, we have the young guys. It's not easy to win this tournament. It's been a wild ride, but it never gets old. Never gets old to win a national championship."

Buffalo had defeated the Chicago Clout, 12-3, in the semifinals to advance. Lombard defeated the Muskies, 4-1 in the other semifinal. The host team Battle Creek Merchants failed to get out of pool play, going winless in the tournament.

The Buffalo Diesel are the 2022 champs of the NABF World Series at Bailey Park in Battle Creek. It is their third national title in the Charles Blackburn Major Division.
The Buffalo Diesel are the 2022 champs of the NABF World Series at Bailey Park in Battle Creek. It is their third national title in the Charles Blackburn Major Division.

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Buffalo Diesel drive to third NABF World Series championship