Valley Sports Report

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DISTRICT 15 LITTLE LEAGUE (JUNIORS): ATHENS FINISHES OFF SWEEP OF WELLSBORO WITH 13-3 WIN; CLAIMS DISTRICT TITLE (24 PHOTOS) (2021-07-13)

Valley Sports Report
ATHENS - Athens rode a fast start to a, 13-3, five-inning win over Wellsboro to finish off a sweep in the best-of-5 championship series in the District 15 Little League Juniors Division baseball playoffs.

Troy Rosenbloom rapped out three hits, scored three runs, and had four RBI to pace Athens at the plate, while Nick Grazul singled twice, scored two runs, and drove in two runs, and Matthias Welles singled, scored one run, and knocked in one run.

Karson Sipley added a single in the win, while Cooper Robinson and Kade Rowe each scored one run and drove in one run, Eli Chapman scored two runs, Dylan Saxon scored one run, and Karter Green, Oliver Johnson, and Keaton Sinsabaugh each scored one run.

The beneficiary of the offense was Grazul, who pitched a complete game to earn the win. Grazul allowed three runs - two earned - on three hits, while striking out seven and walking two in five innings of work.

Rosenbloom's first hit of the game loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning, and Saxon followed with a sacrifice fly to give Athens a 1-0 lead.

Welles made it 2-0 with an RBI single up the middle, and Athens added another run on an error.

With two outs and the bases loaded, Rowe drew a walk, and Robinson was hit by a pitch to extend the lead to 5-0.

Grazul capped the rally with a two-RBI single to give Athens a 7-0 lead at the end of the first inning.

Athens tacked on an unearned run to make it 8-0, but Wellsboro trimmed the deficit to 8-2 in the top of the third inning.

Grazul led off the bottom of the third inning with a single, and scored on an RBI single by Rosenbloom to make it 9-2. With two outs, Rosenbloom scampered home on a wild pitch to extend the lead to extend the lead to 10-2.

Rosenbloom stroked a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning, and later scored on a wild pitch to make it 12-2.

Wellsboro scored an unearned run in the top of the fifth to cut the lead to 12-3, but three walks and a wild pitch that sent Eli Chapman home ended the game via the 10-run "mercy rule."

Athens returns to action later this week in the Section Tournament.

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IN PHOTO 1: Nick Grazul. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.