Sparked by outstanding pitching from Hunter Bell and Anthony Serrano, and yet another stellar offensive performance from hard-hitting Ben Slanker, the Tarp Skunks blanked Niagara Falls 6-0 Thursday night before 1,334 fans at Diethrick Park.

The win, its eighth in the last 10 games, improved Jamestown’s record to 23-12, 11/2 games behind first-place Batavia (24-10-1) in the West Division. The Americans (24-15) are 21/2 games back in third place, followed by fourth-place Auburn (19-11-5), which trails by three games.

Continued strong efforts by the Tarp Skunks will make the chase for the division crown pretty interesting down the stretch.

“That was team baseball through and through,” Jamestown coach Frank Jagoda III said.

Jagoda II hugs his son, Frank Jagoda III, the Tarp Skunks manager. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

It’s hardly a coincidence that Jamestown’s red-hot play is partially attributable to Slanker, the slugging outfielder from the University of Louisville. In the lineup for just his ninth game with the Tarp Skunks, he collected a pair of hits, including an RBI double, to go along with a sacrifice fly.

So far, Slanker is 15 for 26 with three doubles, a triple and a home run, and he’s driven in eight runs and scored seven more.

“Anytime you can add a player like that to the middle of your order it lengthens guys out,” Jagoda said. “And he’s done a really good job of meshing with the guys. It’s a team game, but these guys have rallied around him and rallied around each other.”

Slanker isn’t the only one who is showing out of late.

Last night, Bell and Serrano (1-2) combined on a four-hitter and struck out 11. And although they walked five batters and hit three more, they managed to wiggle their way out of jams to secure the shutout.

Jamestown Tarp Skunks pitcher Anthony Serrano delivers to the plate during Thursday’s PGCBL game against the Niagara Falls Americans at Diethrick Park. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

Jamestown’s offense took care of the rest as the hosts scored a run in the first, third and fifth innings, two in the sixth and one in the eighth, which was more than enough. Falconer native Branston Lindquist collected a pair of hits and drove in a run; and Justin Bremner and Eric Weeks both added RBI singles to support Bell and Serrano.

“I thought Branston Lindquist behind the plate was absolutely phenomenal working with those guys,” Jagoda said.

For the Americans, Tommy Mathay and Christopher Guzaldo each had two hits, but they couldn’t deliver in the clutch and they left 11 men on base. Keegan Bazinet (3-4) suffered the loss.

The Tarp Skunks return to action tonight at Niagara Falls before returning home for a 6:30 p.m. game Saturday against Niagara at Diethrick Park.

“We’re finding ways to win baseball games in different ways,” Jagoda said. “We’ve pitched very well the last few nights. The guys are really coming into their own at the right time.”

Jamestown Tarp Skunks catcher Branston Lindquist looks up at a foul ball during Thursday’s PGCBL game against the Niagara Falls Americans at Diethrick Park. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

NOTES: Prior to the game, Jagoda received the first pitch from his father, Frank Jagoda II. The longtime Dunkirk High School baseball coach, who stepped down after this just-completed season, won a Section VI championship and claimed his 400th career victory this spring. … Cohen Harris is scheduled to start tonight’s game against the Americans.