Valley Sports ReportONEONTA — Waverly's season came to a heart-breaking conclusion Tuesday in a 3-2 eight-inning loss to Oneonta in the semifinals of the Section IV, Class B baseball playoffs.
The top-seeded Yellowjackets scored a run in the fifth inning to tie the game at 2-2, then plated the winning run in the bottom of the eight without the benefit of a hit to advance to Saturday's Class B championship game against third-seeded Lansing, which edged seventh-seeded Susquehanna Valley, 4-3.
"It was a very-well played game by both teams," said Waverly coach Kyle McDuffee.
"This team fought hard every game," he noted. "I'm very proud of this team's efforts."
Oneonta drew first blood in the bottom of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead.
The Wolverines tied the game in the third inning on a two-out RBI single by sophomore Matthias Welles.
In the fourth inning, sophomore Ben Shaw led off with a walk, and sophomore Justin Koenig followed with a line-drive single. With one out, freshman Sam Cheresnowsky grounded an RBI single into left field to give Waverly a 2-1 lead.
Oneonta loaded the bases to start the bottom of the fifth inning on a single and two walks, but Waverly starter Ronin Ault limited the damage and allowed just one run to send the game into the sixth inning tied at 2-2.
The Yellowjackets put runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the sixth, but junior Porter Daddona, on in relief after Ault hit the lead-off batter with a pitch, induced a 5-4-3 (Koenig to Ault to Welles) double play to end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Oneonta loaded the bases with one out on back-to-back singles and an intentional walk (following a fly ball that allowed the lead runner to take up and take third), but Daddona registered a strikeout and fly ball to junior Hogan Shaw in center field to escape the jam.
Ault led off the top of the eighth with a single, and Ben Shaw sacrificed him to second with a bunt, but Oneonta ace Nolan Stark fanned the next two hitters to wrap up an eight-inning start.
In the bottom of the eighth, Oneonta's first two batters were hit by pitches, then advanced a base on a long fly ball. After an intentional walk, Bruce Mistler worked a seven-pitch walk to force home the winning run.
"Ronin (Ault) throw another good game," said McDuffee. "And, we had some key hits at key times.
"We have a young team and we will be well prepared for next year with the experienced we've gained," he added.
Ault allowed two runs on four hits in five innings, while striking out three and walking six in a no-decision.
Daddona was tagged with the loss, allowing one run on three hits, while striking out two and walking one in two innings of relief. Pipher walked two in one-third of an inning of relief.
Welles and Cheresnowsky each singled twice and drove in one run, and Koenig singled twice and scored one run to pace Waverly's eight-hit attack, while Ault and Ben Shaw each added one single, and junior Cooper Robinson scored one run.
Stark earned the win for the Yellowjackets, allowing two runs on eight hits, while striking out six and walking three in eight innings of work.
The Wolverines wrap up the season at 11-9, and graduate just two seniors — Jack Cheresnowsky and Lincoln Sharpsteen.
"Jack and Lincoln worked really hard every practice and were always game ready," said McDuffee.
"They were a big part of our great team culture — always first out of dugout to greet team after innings and first to greet player when they scored.
"They gave more then they took and will be very successful in what they choose to do in life," added McDuffee.
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IN PHOTO: Waverly's Justin Koenig. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.
