Valley Sports ReportATHENS — Athens scored in the bottom of the seventh inning to force extra innings, then pulled out a 2-1 win over Troy in the 10th inning to clinch a share of the NTL Large School Division baseball title.
The Wildcats finish the league schedule with a 14-1 record to share the division title with Wellsboro.
"That was one heck of a baseball game," said Athens coach Charlie Havens. "We were a little deflated today after letting one get away at Wellsboro.
"So just as he’s done all year, Duncan (Thetga) carried us with 7-plus innings and six strikeouts — just a monumental performance.
"He was completely matched by (Reed) Palmer, however. He had everything working," noted Havens.
"We played some small ball to tie it and then I got a little aggressive trying to win it, which backfired. The boys definitely had my back.
"I'm proud of our boys, it's an excellent team win — a complete team win," added Havens.
Both teams had runners on base through the first three innings, but Thetga and Palmer were able to pitch out of minor jams.
Athens' best chance to score came in the bottom of the fourth inning juniors Brady Flynn and Kam Wheeler stroked singles, sandwiched around a walk to Thetga to load the bases, but Palmer fanned the next three batters to escape the jam unscathed.
In the top of the fifth, Troy's first three batters reached base, but two were wiped out on the base paths.
Trey Teribury led off with a single, but Athens catcher Connor Davidson picked him off first.
Frank Harper followed with a line-drive single that skipped off center fielder Brendan Cooke's glove, but Cooke tracked it down and delivered a perfect to gun down Harper at second base.
After a single by Mason Smith, Thetga induced a lazy fly ball to Cooke to get out of the inning.
The Wildcats lost a runner on the base paths in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, senior Nick Grazul and Flynn stroked consecutive singles, and Thetga followed with a line-drive single to left field, but Logunn Heasley cut down Grazul at the plate to end the inning.
The Trojans got on the board in the top of the sixth inning when Brendan Gilliland walked to lead off the frame, moved to second on a ground out and third on a passed ball, before scoring on a groundout off the bat of Logan Loxley.
Junior Ty Owen led off the bottom of the seventh with a bunt single, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Shea Davidson.
Cooke reached on an error, but Owen was forced to hold up at second on the play.
Grazul's RBI single to center field tied the game at 1-1, and with two outs Thetga was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Three pitches later, Cooke was caught trying to steal home to end the threat.
Troy had just one batter reach base after the seventh inning, but he was cut down at second base.
Flynn led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a double, and moved to third with one out on a wild pitch.
After Wheeler was hit by a pitch, Connor Davidson was walked intentionally to load the bases.
Sophomore Kade Rowe then hit a fly ball into right field for the second out, but a throwing error on the play allowed Flynn to scamper home with the game-winner.
Flynn earned the win with 2 1/3 innings of perfect relief.
Thetga allowed one run on 10 hits, while striking out six and walking one in 7 2/3 innings in a no-decision.
Flynn was 4-for-5 with a double to pace Athens' 10-hit attack, while Grazul had two hits and one RBI, and Owen singled and scored one run.
Thetga, Wheeler, and Connor Davidson each added a single in the win.
Athens wraps up the regular season at 17-3, and awaits word on the upcoming District 4 playoffs.
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IN PHOTO 1: Athens junior Duncan Thetga. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens junior Brady Flynn. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
