DISTRICT 15 LITTLE LEAGUE (MAJORS): ATHENS SHUTS DOWN RTL, 7-1, IN OPENING ROUND OF BRACKET PLAY (2022-06-29)

Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — Three Athens pitchers combined on a two-hitter to lead Athens to a 7-1 win over RTL here Tuesday evening in the opening round of bracket play in the District 6 Little League Majors Division baseball playoffs.

Athens, playing as the visiting team, took the lead with a run in the top of the second inning when Ryan Hicks belted a one-out triple, and Kade Rowe followed with a line-drive RBI single.

Athens scored two more runs in the third inning. Sam Cheresnowsky stroked a lead-off single, stole second, and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. After Cartyr Cockcroft and Rowe walked to load the bases, Jacob Saxon grounded a two-out, two-run single to make it 3-0.

Cockcroft an Dickerson added back-to-back RBI singles in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 5-0, and Athens tacked on another run in the top of the fifth to make it 6-0.

RTL got on the board in the home half of the fifth with an unearned run, but Athens countered in the top of the sixth with an RBI double by Hicks.

Dickerson earned the win for Athens, allowing just two hits in 3 2/3 innings on the mound, while striking out eight and walking two.

Saxon allowed an unearned run, while striking out five and walking one in two innings of hitless relief, and Shea Davidson retired the only batter he faced to end the game.

Hicks tripled and doubled, scored one run, and drove in one run, and Rowe singled twice, walked twice and drove in one run to pace Athens’ nine-hit attack.

Cockcroft singled, scored two runs, and drove in one run in the win, while Saxon singled, scored one run, and had two RBI, Cheresnowsky singled and scored two runs, Dickerson singled and scored one run, and Griffin Smith added a single,

Athens will travel to Susquehanna County Saturday for a semi-final match-up. Susquehanna County upended East pool winner Tunkhannock, 6-2, Tuesday.