NTL BASEBALL: SAYRE FINISHES OFF WILLIAMSON WITH 11-RUN INNING IN 15-4 WIN (24 PHOTOS) (2024-04-26)

Valley Sports Report
SAYRE — Sayre shook off another slow start, and scored 11 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to invoke the 10-run “mercy rule” in a 15-4 win over Williamson here Friday afternoon in NTL Small School baseball action at Riverfront Park.

“The team started off slow once again, but it was better than it has been … we left some runners on in key moments again, but didn't wait as long tonight to get some runs on the board,” said first-year Sayre coach Todd Green.

“Late in the game, the team turned the green light on and opened up hitting the ball and working the pitcher for balls in the zone,” added Green.

The Redskins trailed 4-0 after 2 1/2 innings, but junior Nick Pellicano scooted home on a passed ball, and senior Tanner Green drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to close the gap to 4-2 after three innings.

Senior Kaden Bennett pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the fourth inning, using a 1-2-3 (Bennett to freshman Shaine Strickland to sophomore Karter Green) to end the inning.

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Strickland reached on infield single, and took second on an errant throw. After moving to third base on a passed ball, Strickland scored on an RBI single by senior Will Crossett. who scored on a double by Karter Green to tie the game at 4-4.

Bennett yielded a lead-off single in the top of the fifth inning, but retired the next three batters to set the stage for the Redskins big rally.

“Kaden Bennett pitched a good game tonight for us,” said Green. “I am very impressed with how well he has come along on the mound.

“I was very happy the team could finish the game for him as he was out of pitches after the top of the fifth,” noted Green.

“We didn’t commit many errors tonight, which helped us in the field tonight,” added Green. “All in all, it was a good night for the team.”

Senior Jon Apgar led off the home half of the fifth with a double, and Bennett followed with a had groundball single to left field.

After Ryne Osmond bunted Bennett to second base, pinch-runner Garrett Rought scored on a passed ball to give the Redskins a 5-4 lead.

Following a walk to senior Aidan Ennis to load the bases, Pellicano walked, and Strickland stroked a two-RBI single to make it 8-4.

With two outs Karter Green belted an RBI-triple, and scored on a passed ball to extend the lead to 10-4.

Tanner Green walked to re-ignite the rally, Apgar followed with a single, and Bennett walked to load the bases.

After Osmond was hit by a pitch to force home a run to make it 11-4, Ennis and Pellicano stroked back-to-back two-run singles to invoke the 10-run rule.

Apgar was 3-for-3 with two doubles, one run scored, and one RBI, and Karter Green had three hits, including a triple and a double, one run scored, and one RBI to pace Sayre’s 12-hit attack.

Strickland had two hits, three runs scored, and one RBI for the Redskins, while Ennis and Pellicano each singled, scored two runs, and drove in two runs, and Crossett singled, scored one run, and knocked in one run.

Bennett singled and scored two runs in the win, and Tanner Green and Osmond each scored one run, and drove in one run.

Bennett earned the win for the Redskins, allowing four runs — two earned — on six hits, while striking out seven and walking three.

Sayre, now 5-5, returns to action Saturday when it hosts Wellsboro.

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IN PHOTO 1: Sayre’s Shaine Strickland. … PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.