DISTRICT 4 BASEBALL: SAYRE TOPS SOUTHERN COLUMBIA, 7-3, IN CLASS AA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME; THIRD TITLE IN FOUR SEASONS (43 PHOTOS) (2021-06-04)
By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports ReportBLOOMSBURG "" Sophomore Lucas Horton pitched 5 2/3 strong innings, and delivered a key two-run double in the first inning to lead Sayre to its third District 4 baseball title in four seasons (five years, after Covid wiped out the 2020 season) here Friday afternoon at Central Columbia High School.
The top-seeded Redskins, now 21-1, topped third-seeded Southern Columbia, 7-3, in the Class AA championship game for its sixth District 4 title since 2008.
"I'm really proud of the way these kids played," said Sayre coach Jamie VanDuzer. "They've come up big in big situations.
"We put the ball in Luke's hands, and we got some clutch hits," added VanDuzer. "The kids were ready to play today."
VanDuzer also directed the Redskins to a District title in 2018, but this team's strong junior class includes his son Kannon.
"It's special," he said. "I've been with these kids since they first started playing baseball. I've always been around. I wish I had a nickel for every swing I've seen them take in the batting cages.
"I know what these kids can do, and I'm really comfortable putting them in different situations.
But it's not just me, and coach (Mike) Cron, and coach (Joe) Wheeler," noted VanDuzer. "There have been so many other coaches ... a lot of the Dads here (today) coached them at some point on their way up through.
"There have been so many coaches and travel coaches, they've learned something from everybody," added VanDuzer.
Two of the three seniors on the team - Zach Moore and Jake Burgess - played as freshman on Sayre's 2018 district champs.
Moore said he was in awe of the situation as a freshman, but Friday's game was much different.
"If I'm to be honest, today felt like any other game ... it got heated a couple times, but it was like any other game.
"But, it feels great to be District champs again," added Moore. "Now, on to the next chapter - States."
Burgess was glad to be back in Central Columbia, where the Redskins won their title in 2018.
"We've never lost on this field, and it feels pretty good to be on top again," said Burgess with a smile.
The Redskins hadn't played since last Thursday - a 9-2 win over NTL rival Canton in the semifinals.
"We've got a good thing going right now, and it's due to their hard work," said VanDuzer.
"We had a week off, and I needed a break," he noted. "I tried to give the kids two days in a row off, and every one of them text me. It was: "˜coach, we can't take time off.'
"So, I had to throw a batting practice together, just so they could go hit," laughed VanDuzer. "I love that about them."
Lucas Horton allowed three runs - all earned - on seven hits, while striking out six and walking one in 5 2/3 innings to earn the win.
"Luke threw a great game," said VanDuzer. "(Southern Columbia) can hit, they can flat-out hit, He came out and threw strikes, he did just what we expected him to do.
"He knew they could hit, but he's not going to shy away from contact with anybody," added VanDuzer. "And, I've been telling the kids all year that if we pitch well, and we play defense ... I know we can hit with anybody."
Lucas Horton said it was a team effort.
"Brayden (Horton) called a great game, and the guys in the field made some great plays," he noted. "I think I hit my spots well, and made pitches when I needed them."
Scoring runs early also helped added Horton.
"We scored those first three runs in the first ... it helped settle me down," he said. "Then, we got another run in second and in the third - it's such a confidence boost, it really is."
Lucas Horton handed the ball over to junior David Northrup in the top of the sixth inning with a 6-3 lead, two outs and runners on first and second.
The lefty Northrup struck out the first batter he faced to escape the jam unscathed.
The Redskins tacked on a run in the home half of the sixth inning on a two-out, RBI single by junior Mason Houseknecht to plated sophomore Zach Garrity, who reached base when he was hit by a pitch after the first two outs had been recorded.
Northrup retired the first two batters he faced in the top of the seventh, but a would-be game-ending grounder was booted and Southern Columbia had new life.
Northrup walked the next two batters, but the Tigers' final batter pounded a 1-1 pitch into the plate. Brayden Horton alertly bare-handed the high bounce on the way down, and raced about five feet back to home plate for the force out to end the game.
"That was a real heads-up play," said VanDuzer.
Northrup hadn't been on the mound since Sayre regular-season finale against Towanda on May 17.
"It was a little bit nerve-wracking coming in at such a crucial time in the game," said Northrup. "I think it's been three games since I pitched ... Lucas (Horton) has been really dominating the mound in the playoffs.
"It felt good to get out there, and really good to get that third out (in the sixth inning)," noted Northrup.
"It was a little bit of a struggle in the seventh inning," he continued. "I thought the game was over, it was tough to find it again ... but you have to play through stuff like that, that's the game of baseball.
"In the end, we came out with the win," added Northrup. "It feels really good to be District champions."
VanDuzer said Northrup has a habit of getting out of sticky situations.
"I have a habit of doing that to him.
"But, when Luke's pitching, you want to let him go to the maximum," said VanDuzer. "And, Luke doesn't want to leave the game ... I don't think he realizes it's harder for David to come in the game with guys on base, but that's not really on him.
"David pitched well," added VanDuzer. "I think he got a little nervous in the seventh inning. I know I got nervous there, but he closed it out like he always does."
Northrup struck out two and walked two in 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the save.
Lucas Horton pitched around an error in the first inning, then delivered the big hit
Burgess reached on a throwing error to lead-off the game, and ended up on second base thanks to the ample amount of foul territory at Blue Jay Field.
After Brayden Horton was hit in the side of the helmet with a pitch, both runners advanced on a passed ball. Lucas Horton then slammed a pitch into the right-center field gap to give the Redskins a 2-0 lead.
"It was a 3-1 pitch, and I just knew (Gatlin Hovenstein) had to come with something, and I was going to put a good swing on it," said Lucas Horton.
With two outs and Lucas Horton on third, Garrity chopped a ball out in front of the plate, and the throw to first base sailed into foul territory down the right-field line to make it 3-0.
In the top of the second, Owen Sosnoski led off with a single, but was later called out at second base for making contact with Burgess, Sayre's second baseman who was attempting to turn a double play.
In the bottom of the second, Burgess reached on a bloop double that the right fielder misplayed. He scored on a two-out throwing error to make it 4-0.
Burgess, who was 1-for-4 at the plate, scored two runs in the win.
"As long as I get on base, I know with Brayden and Luke and David, and everybody else behind me, they're going to bring me in," said Burgess. "As long as I get on base, my job is done, then it's their turn."
Mike Yancoskie led off the top of the third with a double, and Ian Yoder followed with a single, then promptly stole second.
Jacob Cambria put the Tigers on the board with a sacrifice fly. Yoder then advanced to third base on a groundout, and scored on an RBI single by Liam Klebon to trim the deficit to 4-2.
The Redskins got one run back in the fourth inning on a flyball double by Garrity and an RBI single to right field by junior Kannon VanDuzer.
Houseknecht walked and sophomore Jackson Hubbard singled to load the bases, but Southern Columbia starter Gatlin Hovenstein induced a grounder to Yancoskie at third base, and he fired home for the force out. Hovenstein registered a strikeout to end the inning, and avoid further damage.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Hubbard belted a one-out double and scored on a line-drive RBI double to deep left field by Brayden Horton to make it 6-2.
With one out in the top of the sixth, Sosnoski doubled to right field, and Hovenstein hit a hard groundball single to left field. Brendan Gedman then lifted a sacrifice fly to left field on Lucas Horton's final pitch of the game, setting the stage for Northrup's heroics.
Burgess said there was a lot of talking on the field during the game.
"It was awfully chippy," he said. "I think (Southern Columbia) came in thinking they were the team to beat, and we proved that wrong."
Garrity was 2-for-2 with a double, two runs scored and one RBI to lead Sayre's 10-hit attack, while Hubbard doubled and singled, and scored one run, and Lucas Horton doubled, scored one run, and drove in two runs.
Brayden Horton doubled, scored one run, and drove in one for the Redskins, while VanDuzer and Houseknecht each singled and drove in one run, and Northrup added a single.
Sayre returns to action Monday when it hosts District 2 champ Riverside at Bowman Field in Williamsport. Game time is 4 p.m.
Moore said he has some words of advice for his younger teammates, who have never played in a state playoff game.
"I'm gonna let the guys know, it's going to be nerve-wracking, but we need to approach it like it's a routine game, and we'll do just fine.
"This team is a bunch of competitors, and we play to win the game, no matter what," said Moore.
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IN PHOTO 1: Sayre's Lucas Horton. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
IN PHOTO 25: Sayre's Brayden Horton. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
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