STAC BASEBALL: OPPORTUNISTIC WAVERLY TOPS CHENANGO FORKS, 11-5, TO RUN RECORD TO 9-0 (24 PHOTOS) (2024-04-15)

Valley Sport Report
WAVERLY — Waverly took advantage of three Chenango Forks errors to build an early lead on the way to its ninth straight victory to start the season — an 11-5 win here Monday afternoon in STAC Central Division baseball action.

Forks took the early lead with two runs in the top of the first inning, but Waverly quickly tied the game on a two-run home run over the left-field fence by freshman Matthias Welles in the home half of the frame.

The Wolverines took the lead for good in the top of the third inning when sophomore Hogan Shaw reached second base on an outfield error to lead off the frame, and scored on a one-out sacrifice fly by senior Joey Tomasso.

Waverly starter Ronin Ault pitched around a pair of one-out singles in the fourth inning. then the Wolverines scored three runs on a pair of Forks’ errors in the home half of the inning to extend the lead to 6-2.

After Ault retired the Blue Devils in order in the top of the fifth inning, the Wolverines took firm command with four runs in the bottom of the inning.

Tomasso and Welles led off the inning with back-to-back singles to put runners on first and third. Moments later, Welles was picked off first base, but was able to beat the run down back to first base, while Tomasso stole home to make it 7-2.

After a single by senior Jake VanHouten, senior Sean Bubniak groundout to second base to advance the runners to second and third base, and Ault followed with an RBI single to right field to make it 8-2.

With two outs, Hogan Shaw walked to load the bases, and Jay Pipher lined a two-RBI single into left-center field to extend the lead to 10-2. Pipher then got caught up in a rundown, and beat it second base, while Hogan Shaw stole home to make it 11-2.

The Blue Devils rapped out a triple, double, and a single, and took advantage of a Waverly error to plate three runs to close the gap to 11-5, but freshman catcher Benny Shaw ended the rally by picking a runner off second base for the third out.

Eighth-grader Jack Pipher relieved to start the seventh inning, and hit a Forks batter with his first pitch, and walked the second batter to put runners on first and second.

The next batter hit a rocket down the third-base line, but Perry made a diving stop and beat the runner to third base for the force out.

Pipher settled down, and retired the next two batters to nail down the win.

Welles homered and singled, scored two runs, and drove in two run, and Jay Pipher singled, stole two bases, and had three RBI to pace Waverly’s seven-hit attack, while Ault singled, scored two runs, and knocked in one run, and Tomasso singled, scored one run, and drove in one run.

VanHouten singled and scored two runs in the win, while Perry singled and scored one run, Hogan Shaw scored two runs, and Bubniak crossed the plate once.

Ault earned the win, allowing five runs — two earned — on seven hits, while striking out three, and walking six to earn the win. Pipher walked one in a hitless inning of scoreless relief.

Waverly, now 9-0, returns to action Tuesday at Chenango Forks.

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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly’s Matthias Welles. … PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.