Valley Sports ReportATHENS — Athens scored early and often in support of sophomore Kam Wheeler's strong pitching performance in an 11-1 six-inning win over Wyalusing here Thursday afternoon in NTL Large School Division baseball action.
"Tonight was an excellent night for us," said Athens coach Charlie Havens. "We took care of business on our end and got some help from Mansfield as well.
"Guys have stepped up with the injury bug hitting us at a bad time," added Havens. "(Brady) Flynn on Friday and (Kam) Wheeler today, both with great pitching performances.
"We have been taking it one day at a time," added Haven.
With the win, coupled with Troy's loss at North Penn-Mansfield, the Wildcats, 7-1 in divisional play, takes a two-game lead over Troy and NP-M.
Wheeler earned the win, allowing one run on one hit, with four strikeouts and two walks in six innings of work.
Athens scored three runs in each of the first three innings to build a 9-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first, Athens took advantage of three base on balls and one error in a rally that featured an RBI single by sophomore Duncan Thetga, and an RBI groundout by Wheeler.
The Wildcats loaded the bases in the second inning on two walks and a hit batsman. Two of the runs scored on wild pitches, and sophomore Connor Davidson capped the rally with an RBI single to make it 6-0.
Senior Troy Rosenbloom capped Athens' third-inning rally with an RBI single. The first two runs scored on an infield error.
Wyalusing got on the board in the fourth inning to close the gap to 9-1.
With one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, Davidson and sophomore Brady Flynn belted back-to-back doubles to make it 10-1.
After a single by Wheeler, junior Eli Chapman ended the game — via the 10-run "mercy rule" — with an RBI single.
Flynn doubled and singled, scored two runs, and drove in one run, and Davidson doubled and singled, scored one run, and knocked in one run to pace Athens' eight-hit attack.
Rosenbloom singled, scored two runs, and drove in two runs in the win, while Thetga singled, scored one run, and knocked in one run, Wheeler and Chapman each singled and had one RBI, junior Eli Hobday scored two runs, and senior Dylan Saxon crossed the plate once.
Athens, now 11-2, hosts Wellsboro Friday.
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IN PHOTO 1: Athens sophomore Kam Wheeler. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens sophomore Connor Davidson. ... PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA KREYKENBOHM.
