SECTION 3 LITTLE LEAGUE (MAJORS): ATHENS FALLS TO HEPBURNVILLE-LYCOMING IN OPENING ROUND OF SECTIONALS (24 PHOTOS) (2012-07-16)
Valley Sports ReportATHENS "” Hepburnville-Lycoming scored five runs in the bottom of the third inning to break open a tie game on its way to a 10-4 win over Athens here Friday night in the opening round of the Section 3 Little League Majors Division baseball playoffs.
H-L scored in the home half of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead, but Athens took advantage of a bit batsman and two walks to load the bases in the top of the second inning, and Duncan Thetga scampered home on a wild pitch to tie the game.
H-L used three straight hits to open the bottom of the third inning to take a 3-1 lead, then took advantage of a dropped third strike and an error to extend the lead to 5-1.
The fourth hit of the inning gave H-L a 6-1 lead.
Trailing 7-1 after four innings, Athens, playing as the visiting team, scored on a sacrifice fly by Graham Wanck to cut the lead to 7-2.
H-L ended any thoughts of a comeback with three runs in the home half of the fifth to push the lead to 10-2.
Duncan Thetga led off the sixth inning with a single, and scored on an RBI double by Alex McQuay, who later scored on a fielder's choice groundout off the bat of Sam Cheresnowsky.
A walk to Kamdyn Wheeler re-loaded the bases with one out, but Athens couldn't muster anymore offense.
Thetga singled twice and scored two runs to pace Athens at the plate, while McQuay doubled, scored one run, and drove in one run, Cheresnowsky singled, scored one run, and knocked in one run, Connor Davidson singled, and Wanck drove in one run.
Athens committed five errors that led to seven unearned runs in the loss.
Athens returns to action Saturday against Tri-Valley in the first elimination game of the double-elimination tournament.
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING.
