Valley Sports ReportATHENS — Athens is one win away from a remarkable run to a District 15 championship, which began with a win in the consolation bracket after a 9-2 win over Wellsboro here Friday night in the championship series of the double-elimination Little League Baseball Majors Division tournament.
Athens began the tournament with a 4-3 loss to Southern Tioga. Since, Athens has reeled off five wins, outscoring its opponents, 70-9, in the process.
Athens and Wellsboro will square off again Sunday at Athens at 4 p.m. in a winner-take-all game for the District 15 title.
On Friday, a trio of Athens hurlers combined on a three-hitter, and the bats staked them to an early lead.
Wellsboro score a run in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead, but Athens answered with two runs in the second, and three more in the third to take a 5-1 lead.
Wellsboro scored in the top of the fourth to close the game to 5-2, but Athens took complete control with four runs in the home half of the fifth to extend ether lead to 9-2 heading into Wellsboro's final at-bat.
Connor Robinson retired Wellsboro in order in the top of the sixth inning, including a pair of strikeouts to end the game.
Leo Loziere started for Athens, allowing one run on two hits, while striking out four and walking one in two innings.
Easton Hubbard allowed one hit and walked three, while striking out two in 1 1/3 innings of relief, and Robinson fanned seven of the eight batters he faced in 2 2/3 innings of relief to close out the win.
Wyatt Raupers doubled twice, scored two runs, and had three RBI to pace Athens' seven-hit attack, while Loziere doubled, scored two runs, and drove in one run, and Beau Hall singled and had two RBI.
Bentley Stephens singled and scored one run in the win, while Landon Briggs doubled, Robinson singled, Grant Campbell scored two runs, and Parker Collum and Hubbard each crosse the plate once.
——————————
PHOTOS BY MATT PATTON.
