IAC / NTL BASEBALL: WAVERLY TAKES ADVANTAGE OF SAYRE MISCUE IN 4-3 WIN IN SECOND ROUND OF 'WOUNDED WARRIORS BASEBALL CLASSIC' (24 PHOTOS) (2019-04-13)

Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY "” Waverly scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a two-out error, then escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh inning to post a 4-3 win over Sayre here Saturday afternoon in the second round of the "Wounded Warriors Baseball Classic."

The Redskins took the lead in the top of the second inning without the benefit of a hit. Junior Camden Wheeler and freshman David Northrup both worked two-out walks, and sophomore Jake Burgess was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Wheeler scooted home on a wild pitch, but Waverly starter senior Colby Sindoni escaped further damage with a strikeout to end the inning.

Waverly answered with an unearned run in the home half of the second to tie the game at 1-1. With one out, senior Cole Jenner was hit by a pitch, and with two outs, senior Ethan Lloyd reached on an error.

Seventh-grader Joey Tomasso then singled to right field, where the ball was misplayed, allowing Jenner to score to tie the game. Sayre starter senior James Esposito ended the threat with a strikeout.

Sophomore Zach Moore led off the third inning with Sayre's first hit of the day, a double down the left-field line. After a walk to junior Quinn Hanafin, freshman Brayden Horton delivered a two-RBI single to give the Redskins a 3-1 lead.

Waverly answered quickly again with a run in the home half of the third to trim the deficit to 3-2. Junior Jalen McCarty led off with a walk, and ended up on third base after consecutive groundouts. Junior Ethan Stotler's line-drive RBI single to right field plated McCarty.

Sayre put runners on first and second (walk and error) with one out in the top of the fourth, but Sindoni retired the next two batters.

Hanafin walked to lead off the fifth, and freshman Kannon VanDuzer followed with a pinch-hit single to put runners on first and second. Sindoni retired the next two batters, and Jenner, on in relief, ended the threat with a strikeout.

In the bottom of the fifth, McCarty reached base on a one-out error to trigger the game-winning rally. After a bunt single by Sindoni moved McCarty, who had stolen second, to third base, Sindoni took second base on defensive indifference.

With two outs, an errant throw on a groundball off the bat of Stotler plated both Waverly runners to make it 4-3.

Jenner pitched around a one-out single by junior Nic Ficarro in the sixth inning, and Waverly missed on a golden opportunity to add to its lead in the home half.

Jenner led off the frame with a single to center field, but was cut down by Esposito at second base trying to stretch it into a double. The Wolverines proceeded to load the bases on a single by freshman Caden Hollywood, a walk to Lloyd, and 7th-grader Joey Tomasso getting hit by a pitch, but Ficarro, on in relief, induced a come-backer to mound and started a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning.

 With two outs in the top of the seventh and VanDuzer on first as the result of an error, Wheeler lined a single to center field, and Northrup was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but a groundball to Tomasso at second base ended the game.

Jenner earned the win for the Wolverines with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. He gave up two hits and struck out two. Sindoni started and allowed three runs - one earned - on three hits, with five strikeouts and five walks in 4 2/3 innings.

Esposito was tagged with the tough-luck loss for the Redskins, allowing four runs - one earned - on three hits, with four strikeouts and one walk in five innings of work. Ficarro yielded two hits and a walk in a scoreless inning of relief.

Sindoni and Jenner each singled and scored a run, and Stotler, Hollywood and Tomasso each added a single to account for Waverly's five hits.

Horton singled and drove in two runs, while Moore doubled and scored one run, Wheeler singled and scored one run, and VanDuzer and Ficarro each added a single to account for Sayre's five hits.

Waverly, now 4-3, travels to U-E Monday for a noon start, while Sayre, now 2-5, hosts Williamson at 4:30 p.m.

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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly first baseman Caden Hollywood. ... PHOTOS COURTESY OF MATT PATTON.