NTL BASEBALL: WILLIAMSPORT HANDS ATHENS FIRST LOSS, 10-9, IN WALK-OFF FASHION (2025-04-18)

Valley Sports Report
WILLIAMSPORT — Athens rallied to take the lead in the top of the sixth inning, but Williamsport pulled out a 10-9 walk-off win with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh here Thursday afternoon in non-league baseball action.

The Wildcats scored three runs in the top of the third inning without the benefit of a hit to take a 3-0 lead. Athens used three base on balls, three hit batters to score its runs.

The lead was short-lived, however, as the Millionaires answered with six runs in the home half of the inning, all unearned thanks to a two-out error.

Athens added a run in the fourth inning — again without a hit — on a hit batsman and three base on balls to close the gap to 6-4.

Williamsports scored twice in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend its lead to 8-4, but the Wildcats answered in the top of the sixth.

Junior Nick Grazul and sophomore Connor Davidson hit back-to-back singles to open the inning, and sophomore Brendan Cooke rapped a line-drive two-RBI double to make it 8-6.

Sophomore Brady Flynn followed with an RBI single to trim the deficit to 8-7.

After a walk to senior Dylan Saxon, junior Eli Hobday lined an RBI single to right field to tie the game at 8-8, and sophomore Duncan Thetga capped the rally with an RBI single to give the Wildcats a 9-8 lead.

In the bottom of the ninth, Williamsport worked a pair of walks to start the inning, and tied the game on a passed ball and a wild pitch. Three pitches later, a fielder's choice with the runner beating the throw home from second base to end the game.

Thetga singled twice and drove in two runs, and Davidson singled twice and scored one run to pace Athens' eight-hit attack, while Cooke doubled, scored two runs, and drove in two runs, and Flynn singled, scored two runs, and knocked in two runs.

Hobday singled and had two RBI for the Wildcats, while Grazul singled and scored one run, junior Eli Chapman scored two runs, and Saxon scored one run and knocked in one run.

Athens, now 7-1, plays at Towanda Saturday at 10:30 a.m., and hosts Thomas A. Edison at 4 p.m.

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IN PHOTO: Athens sophomore Brendan Cooke. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.

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