IAC BASEBALL: WAVERLY OUTLASTS LANSING'S ACE IN, 1-0, 10-INNING WIN IN SEMIFINALS (16 PHOTOS) (2019-05-16)
Valley Sports ReportDRYDEN - Garrett Bell may be the best pitcher in Section IV, and the odds of beating Lansing when he's on the mound are slim.
Waverly didn't beat Bell Thursday afternoon in IAC baseball semifinals, but they did outlast him - winning a 1-0 decision in 10 innings over the Bobcats here at Tompkins-Cortland Community College.
"Bell was spot-on with his pitches, and hitting his spots," said Waverly coach Kyle McDuffee. "He pounded the strike zone, and kept his pitch count low.
"Beating a team like Lansing with a pitcher like Bell on the mound is a great victory for us," added McDuffee.
Bell allowed just two hits in nine innings, striking out 13 and walking two in a no-decision.
Once Bell left the game, it took just six pitches from the Lansing reliever for the Wolverines to claim victory.
Freshman Caden Hollywood ripped a 2-2 pitch for a double, and senior Cole Jenner hit the first pitch he saw into left field for a walk-off RBI double.
"Caden (Hollywood) and Cole (Jenner) have been working really hard in the cage and it showed in the 10th inning," said McDuffee.
It took two Waverly hurlers to match up with Bell.
Hollywood started. allowing seven hits, while striking out seven and walking four in six shutout innings. Junior Ethan Stotler, who threw a complete-game shutout against Corning Saturday, struck out two and walked one in four hitless inning to earn the win.
"Caden (Hollywood) worked out of some early-game jams, with guys on second and third and less than two outs, thanks to some good defense behind him," said McDuffee.
"We played solid defense and knew that was what it would take to win this game," he noted.
"(Ethan) Stotler pounded the strike zone," added McDuffee.
Lansing left 14 runners on base in the loss, including seven in scoring position. They left the bases loaded in the first and third innings.
Waverly will face Edison, which beat Marathon 3-0 in the other semifinal, Friday at 5 p.m. in the championship game.
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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly's Caden Hollywood. ... PHOTOS COURTESY OF SHANNON McCARTY.
