NTL BASEBALL: BIG INNING CARRIES ATHENS TO 25-1 SEASON-OPENING WIN OVER COWANESQUE VALLEY (18 PHOTOS) (2023-03-24)
Valley Sports ReportWESTFIELD, Pa. — Athens poured 18 runs across the plate in the third inning, highlighted by three hits by junior Nicholas Jacob and a two-run home run by senior Lucas Horton, on its way to a season-opening, 25-1, three-inning win over Cowanesque Valle in NTL baseball action here Friday afternoon.
"CV lost a bunch of seniors, and is rebuilding a bit," said Athens coach Charlie Havens. "They used a few different pitchers, but I loved our plate approach today. We pounded out 15 hits, including five doubles and a home run."
Havens said the big hit of the game was a two-out, two-RBI double by senior Carson Smith that gave the Wildcats a 4-0 lead.
"Carson Smith had a great at-bat to really get us going in the first (inning)," said Havens. "We took off after his double."
Freshman Nick Grazul added an RBI double to plate Smith, and Athens led 5-0 after the top of the first inning.
In the top of the second, senior Lucas Kraft ripped an RBI double to plate senior Mason Lister, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Kraft later scored on a passed ball to make it 7-0 after 1 1/2 innings.
In the top of the third, Jacob stroked three singles, including a two-run single, Horton had two hits, including his two-run homer, and senior Jaren Glisson had two singles, and three RBI as the Wildcats banged out 11 of their 15 hits. They also benefitted from seven walks in the frame (CV pitchers issued 13 free passes in the game) and a pair of CV errors.
"I couldn’t be happier with that start to the season," said Havens. "We will get back to work on Monday and get ready for Canton on Friday."
Horton was the beneficiary of the offensive explosion, earning the win with three innings of one-hit ball. He allowed one earned run on one hit, while striking out six and walking three.
"Luke came out of the gate pounding the strike zone and was confident in all five pitches," said Athens assistant coach Andy Podolinski.
"He was in command from the jump. He got ahead of hitters and his location for being game one was spot-on," he noted. "His velocity kept improving as the game went on, and he finished the game off strong.
"We look forward to more dominant outings out of Luke this year," added Podolinski. "Overall, it was a great outing to start the season."
Jacob was 3-for-3 with a walk, a double, three runs scored and three RBI, and Horton was 3-for-3 with a home run, three runs scored, a stolen base, and two RBI to pace the Wildcats at the plate, while Glisson singled twice, scored three runs, and drove in three runs.
Lister singled, scored three runs, stole a base, and knocked in two runs in the win, while senior Cam Sullivan doubled, scored two runs, stole one base, and drove in two runs, Grazul doubled, scored two runs, and had two RBI, and Smith doubled, scored one run, and drove in three runs.
Kraft doubled, scored three runs, and drove in one run for Athens, while senior Caleb Nichols singled, scored two runs, stole a base, and knocked in one run, junior Kaiden Hyjek doubled, scored one run, and knocked in one run, and seniors Matt Machmer and Caleb Fritsch scored one run, and drove in one run.
Athens is off until Friday when it travels to Canton.
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IN PHOTOS 1-2: Athens senior Carson Smith. … PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHRISTINA KREYKENBOHM.
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