DISTRICT 15 LITTLE LEAGUE (MAJORS): ATHENS ELIMINATED WITH 8-6 LOSS AT TOWANDA (2019-07-01)

Valley Sports Report
TOWANDA "” Towanda scored five runs in the top of the fourth inning to overcome an early deficit en route to an 8-6 win over Athens in consolation bracket action in the District 15 Little League Majors Division baseball playoffs.

Athens, playing as the home team, jumped ahead 2-0 in the first inning on an RBI single by Troy Rosenbloom, and a two-out Towanda error.

Towanda trimmed the deficit to 2-1 with a run in the top of the second inning, but Athens scored in the bottom of the third on a double by Rosenbloom, who scored on a groundout off the bat of Matthew Driesbaugh, to make it 3-1.

Towanda scored a run on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth to cut the Athens lead to 3-2, then scored five unearned runs in the fifth to take a 7-3 lead.

Athens rallied with three runs in the home half of the fifth inning. Nick Grazul led off with a line-drive single to center field, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI single by Rosenbloom, who scored moments later on a ringing RBI triple by Driesbaugh to make it 7-5.

Driesbaugh scored on a groundout off the bat of Dylan Saxon to pull within a run, at 7-6, but that was all the offense Athens would be able to manufacture.

Towanda tacked an insurance run in the sixth inning to make it 8-6, and pitched around a two-out double by Grazul to secure the win and advance in the consolation bracket.

Rosenbloom had three hits, including a double, scored three runs, and had two RBI, and Grazyl doubled and singled, and scored one run to pace Athens' nine-hit attack, while Driesbaugh tripled, scored one run, and drove in two runs.

Eli Hobday and Rodney Chapman each singled for Athens, and Carson Rowe scored one run.

Dylan Saxon was tagged with the tough-luck loss, allowing seven runs - one earned - on three hits, while striking out six and walking four in five innings of work.

Chapman finished off the game, allowing one run on two hits, while striking out one in one inning of relief.