Dunkirk native Peyton Ahlstrom delivered.

The right-hander from Finger Lakes Community College scattered three hits, struck out five and walked three to help the Tarp Skunks secure a much-needed 8-3 win over the Red Wings in the first game of a scheduled doubleheader at Diethrick Park.

The second game was postponed with one out in the bottom of the second inning due to a thunderstorm.

The victory in the opener raised Jamestown’s record to 22-17 and into sole possession of third place in the Western Division, a half-game in front of Niagara (21-17) and a full game in front of fifth-place Auburn (21-18). The top four teams in the division make the playoffs.

Tarp Skunks starting pitcher Peyton Ahlstrom delivers to the plate. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

The Tarp Skunks travel to the Power tonight and conclude their regular season against Niagara at Diethrick Park on Friday.

“We control our own destiny against Niagara,” Basile said. “We go and take care of them the next couple days, we don’t have to worry about anything.”

Basile could use two more solid pitching outings like the one Ahlstrom turned in Wednesday.

Although Ahlstrom wasn’t perfect — he hit back-to-back batters to open the fourth inning, which led to a run, and then walked the first two batters in the fifth and they both scored — he didn’t lose his composure and left the game after 4 1/2 innings with a 4-3 lead.

“He did a great job, and it started with throwing strikes,” Basile said. “He was making them put the ball in play and the defense was good behind him.”

Jamestown Tarp Skunks second baseman Tommy Googins goes up to catch a throw as Geneva Red Wings’ Dillon Can steals second base during Wednesday’s PGCBL West Division game at Diethrick Park. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

In the bottom of the fifth, Jamestown plated four insurance runs, highlighted by a two-run single by Zach Kent. Armed with an 8-3 lead, that was more than enough for relievers Evan Berta and Jason Masick, who each pitched a scoreless inning to preserve the Tarp Skunks’ much-needed win.

Grady Mee (triple) and Tommy Googins both had two hits, and Cooper Munro and Luc Fuller each had a double to lead the offensive attack for Jamestown.

The Tarp Skunks jumped out to a 1-0 lead after an inning when Mee led off with a triple and scored on an error. They added two more runs in the third, courtesy of RBI singles from Googins and Jake Kernodle.

After the Red Wings (11-30) closed to within 3-1 in the top of the fourth on Jason Shockey’s RBI double, Jamestown countered with a run in the bottom half of the inning on Munro’s double to left.

Geneva eventually closed to within 4-3, but Ahlstrom buckled down to avoid further damage.

“His breaking ball was good,” Basile said. “Not only was it good, he was keeping the ball down in the zone. When he got that curveball and slider down in the zone, he was getting a lot of swing and misses on it, so he did a good job.”

The win evened Ahlstrom’s record at 1-1 since joining the Tarp Skunks a couple weeks ago.

“We knew he was a good pitcher,” Basile said. “Secondly, it was a great time to add an arm. We had a couple guys go down (with injuries). We’d only heard good things about how good a pitcher he was on the mound and he proved it. Not only has he been good for us, but he’s been above expectations.”