VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: SAYRE'S HORTON TOPS LIST OF SUPER 7 MALE 'NEWCOMERS OF THE SPRING' (2021-08-13)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY - Sayre sophomore Lucas Horton made an immediate impact on the mound, and at the plate, and helped the Redskins to a District 4, Class AA baseball title. He is the Valley Sorts Report 2021 Male "Newcomer of the Spring."

Horton was dominant on the mound this season. He posted an 8-1 record with a 1.51 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He struck out 64 and walked just 17 in 46 1/3 innings, while allowing just 32 hits.

At the plate, Horton hit .389 (28 hits in 72 ABs), and walked 20 times for a .516 on-base percentage. He also had a .597 slugging percentage, thanks to a team-high 10 doubles, one triple and one home run, for a 1.113 OPS. He also had 33 RBI, 36 runs scored, and three stolen bases.

The 2020-21 Super 7 Male "Newcomer of the Spring:"
Lucas Horton, sophomore, Sayre: See above.

Bryce Bailey, sophomore, Tioga: A very good defensive outfielder, Bailey hit .514 (18 hits in 35 ABs) in the Tigers' truncated season. He walked five times for a .605 on-base percentage, and had a .657 slugging percentage for a 1.262 OPS.

Bailey had three doubles, one triple, seven RBI, 11 runs scored.

Conlan Taylor, 8th-grader, Tioga: Taylor was 3-1 with a 2.15 ERA in his first varsity season. He struck out 28 and walked 18 in 29 1/3 innings, while allowing just 23 hits.

Taylor hit .295 (13 hits in 44 ABs) with five doubles, seven RBI, and 12 runs scored. He walked seven times for a .385 on-base percentage.

Ty Beeman, sophomore, Waverly: A stellar defensive catcher, Beeman was a steadying influence on the Wolverines as a newcomer.  He hit .344 (22 hits in 64 ABs) with three doubles, one home run, a team-high 26 RBI, 22 runs scored, and six stolen bases. He also worked 10 walks for an on-base percentage of .442.

Beeman made just two errors in 95 defensive chances for a .979 fielding percentage. He also gunned down seven would-be base stealers.

Valentino Rossi, freshman, Tioga: Rossi won gold in the triple jump, and silver in the long jump at the IAC Championships. He also ran on the fifth-place 400-meter relay team. At the IAC South Small School Divisional meet, he won the long jump, was a member of the record-breaking first-place 400-meter relay team, and was third in the 400-meter dash.

At the Class C Championships, Rossi placed second in the triple jump, was fifth in the long jump, and was also on the fifth-place 400-meter relay. He finished fifth in the triple jump at the Section IV Showcase.

Cam Sullivan, sophomore, Athens: Sullivan hit .356 (21 hits in 59 at-bats), with seven base on balls for a .449 on-base percentage. He had two doubles, one triple, 15 RBI and 11 runs scored.

On the mound, Sullivan was 3-0 with two saves and a 3.21 ERA - struck out 25 and walked nine in 28 1/3 innings

Zach Garrity, sophomore, Sayre: A gritty grinder, Garrity was hit by pitches 13 times this season - easily leading the area. He was second on the team with a .422 average (27 hits in 64 ABs). With nine base on balls (plus the hit batsman), he had a .570 on-base percentage, to go along with a .594 slugging percentage for a 1.164 OPS.