NTL BASEBALL: ATHENS BATS SAVE THE DAY IN 13-11 WIN OVER TROY (April 24, 2026)

Valley Sports Report
EAST TROY — Athens entered the game with seven wins in its last eight games, allowing just 10 runs in those wins, but it was the offense that stepped up here Friday in a 13-11 win over Troy in NTL baseball action.

The Wildcats scored seven runs in the top of the first inning, and led 9-2 after two innings, but the Trojans scored eight runs — all unearned — in the third inning to take a 10-9 lead.

Athens answered with three runs in the top of the fourth, and added another run in the fifth to take a 13-10 lead. Troy scored a run in the sixth inning to close the gap to 13-11, and had the bases loaded with one out, but junior Duncan Thetga escaped further damage to preserve the lead.

The Wildcats jumped out to an immediate seven-run lead in the top of the first inning a rally that featured a two-run double by Thetga, a two-RBI single by junior Brendan Cooke, and RBI singles by seniors Nick Grazul and Eli Hobday.

Junior Connor Davidson's two-run home run in the top of the second inning put the Wildcats ahead 9-2, but they trailed 10-9 through three innings, after a pair of errors early in the inning helped Troy to eight runs.

Walks to Connor Davidson and freshman Shea Davidson, sandwiched around a single by Zeke Noble loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fourth. Cooke was hit by a pitch to force in the tying run, and Grazul knocked in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly.

Junior Brady Flynn's two-out RBI single put the Wildcats up 12-10.

Consecutive singles by junior Kam Wheeler, Connor Davidson, and junior Alex McQuay to open the fifth inning loaded the bases, and set the Wildcats up for a big inning, but the only run to score came on the next at-bat on an error off the bat of Hobday to make it 13-10.

The Trojans scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to cut the deficit to 13-11, and had the bases loaded with one out, but Thetga induced an infield pop-out, then a strikeout to end the threat.

Thetga pitched around a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the win.

Grazul stroked three singles, scored one run, and had three RBI to pace Athens' 15-hit attack, while Connor Davidson homered and singled, scored two runs, and drove in two runs, Thetga doubled and singled, scored one run, and knocked in two runs, and Wheeler singled twice, scored two runs, and drove in one run.

Cooke singled, scored one run, and had three RBI in the win, while Hobday singled, scored one run, and drove in two runs, Flynn singled, scored once, and knocked in one run, and Noble singled and scored two runs.

McQuay and Ty Owen each added a single for the Wildcats, and Shea Davidson scored two runs.

Flynn was tagged for nine runs — only one earned — on four hits and three walks in 2 1/3 innings.

Thetga earned the win, allowing two runs on four hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked four.

Athens, now 10-2, returns to action Tuesday at NP-Mansfield.

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IN PHOTO: Athens junior Connor Davidson. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.

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