Valley Sports ReportATHENS — Senior Nick Grazul stroked a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning to finish off a crazy 8-7 win over Towanda here Saturday in NTL Large School baseball action.
The Wildcats led 2-0 after five innings, but the final two innings were all offense.
"It was two completely different games," said Athens coach Charlie Havens. "It was five innings of a pitchers duel only to finish with a lot of offense.
"Towanda is a well-coached team and have really been improving as the year goes on, so we knew it’d be a tough game.
"Our guys responded today every time we got in a tough spot," he said. "I am proud of their resiliency.
"Shea Davidson laid down two perfect sacrifices," noted Havens. "Then, we made sure not to leave guys on base ... it was great seeing Graz (Nick Grazul) break through for the walk-off.
"Every season has those big moments," added Havens. "We are playing good ball now, and need to keep building on that as we creep up on postseason."
Junior Brendan Cooke led off the bottom of the first, and scored on a two-out single by junior Duncan Thetga to give the Wildcats the early lead.
Cooke smacked a one-out solo home run over the left-field fence in the top of the fifth inning to make it 2-0.
The Black Knights took advantage of an error and a walk, sandwiched around a double to load in the top of the sixth inning, but Thetga snagged a line drive at first base and stepped on first to double off the runner to leave runners on second and third with two outs.
A pair of wild pitches, however, plated both runners to tie the game at 2-2.
The Wildcats answered quickly in the home half of the sixth inning.
Juniors Kam Wheeler and Connor Davidson stroked back-to-back singles to start the rally, and freshman Shea Davidson moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt.
After a walk to junior Alex McQuay loaded the bases, senior Eli Hobday hit a 3-2 pitch to right field for an RBI single to put Athens up 3-2.
Cooke and Grazul then drew a four-pitch walks to force home runs to extend the lead to 5-2.
Junior Brady Flynn capped the rally with a sacrifice fly to give the Wildcats a 6-2 lead.
Towanda, however, scored five runs — all with two outs — in the top of the seventh inning to take a 7-2 lead. Gage Evans' bases-clearing three-run double tied the game at 6-6, and Avery Butts put the Knights ahead with an RBI.
Wheeler worked a walk to lead off the seventh inning, and senior Karson Sipley entered as a pinch-runner. Sipley moved to second when Connor Davidson drew a walk.
After Shea Davidson moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt, McQuay was intentionally walked to load the bases.
After a strikeout, Sipley scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 7-7, and Cooke walked to re-load the bases to set the stage for Grazul, who hit a 1-0 pitch into center field for the game-winner.
Cooke homered and doubled, scored two runs, and drove in two runs to pace Athens' nine-hit attack, while Grazul singled and knocked in two runs, and Connor Davidson singled and scored two runs.
Hobday singled, scored one run, and drove in one run, while Flynn and Thetga each had a single and one RBI, Wheeler singled and scored one run, freshman Zeke Noble added a single, and McQuay scored one run.
Sophomore Kade Rowe pitched five shutout innings, allowing three hits, while striking out seven and walking two in a no-decision.
Flynn earned the win, allowing one hit in one-third of an inning.
Athens, now 13-2, returns to action Monday in a non-league contest at Milton.
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IN PHOTO: Athens senior Nick Grazul. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.
