NTL BASEBALL: ATHENS POUNDS OUT 12-5 WIN OVER TOWANDA (14 PHOTOS) (2024-05-02)
Valley Sports ReportTOWANDA - Athens broke open a close game with a five-run fifth-inning on its way to a 12-5 win over Towanda here Thursday afternoon in NTL Large School Division baseball action.
Seniors Connor Mosher and Nicholas Jacob combined to allow just one earned run as they were hurt by four errors in the contest, but were the beneficiaries of 17 base hits.
"Connor Mosher really pitched well," said Athens coach Charlie Havens. "He had to pitch around a couple defensive miscues and continuously made big pitches to bail us out.
"The bats really came alive tonight, banging out 17 hits," noted Havens. "We got some clutch hits from (Brendan) Cooke, Kamdyn) Wheeler, (Duncan) Thetga, and (Connor) Mosher.
"I hope we can continue that kind of baseball (Friday) at Mansfield," added Havens.
The Wildcats drew blood with two runs in the top of the second inning. Mosher, and junior Troy Rosenbloom led off the inning with back-to-back singles, and moved up to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Kamdyn Wheeler.
With one out, sophomore Cooper Robinson flared an RBI single into center field to make it 1-0, and freshman Duncan Thetga knocked in a run with a fielder’s choice to extend the lead to 2-0.
Towanda closed the gap to 2-1 in the home half of the inning, scoring without the benefit of a hit.
The Black Knights took advantage of a pair of Athens errors in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game at 2-2.
Freshman Brendan Cooke gave the Wildcats a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth inning with an RBI single. The run was set up by a pair of Towanda errors.
With one out in the top of the fifth inning, Mosher, Rosenbloom, and Wheeler stroked consecutive singles for the first run of the rally. Robinson then plated a pair of runs with a groundball single up the middle to make it 6-2.
With two outs, Robinson scooted home on a throwing error as he stole third base, and Cooke capped the rally with an RBI single to push the lead to 8-2.
The Knights used a pair of Wildcat errors to plate three runs, closing the gap to 8-5.
Athens rapped out six hits in the top of the sixth to salt the game away with four runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Senior Nicholas Jacob led off the inning with a ground ball single into left field, and two pitches later was on third via a double off the bat of Mosher.
Sophomore Eli Chapman flared an RBI single into centerfield to start the scoring, then stole second base to put runners on second and third.
Wheeler then ripped a two-RBI single into center field to make it 11-5. Cooke capped the rally with a two-out RBI single to extend the lead to 12-5.
Mosher earned the win for the Wildcats, allowing four runs — one earned - on one hit, while striking out seven and walking three in four innings.
Jacob notched the save, allowing one unearned run on two hits, with two strikeouts and no walks in three innings of relief.
Cooke was 4-for-4 with two RBI, and Mosher had three hits, including a double, and three runs scored to pace Athens at the plate.
Robinson singled twice, scored two runs, and had two RBI in the win, while Wheeler singled twice, scored one run, and had three RBI, Rosenbloom singled twice and scored two runs, and freshman Duncan Thetga singled twice and drove in one run.
Chapman singled, scored one run, and knocked in one run for the Wildcats, while Jacob singled, and scored one run, and freshman Connor Davidson scored one run.
Athens, now 6-8, returns to action Friday when it travels to North Penn-Mansfield.
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING.
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