Hornets rally in 7th to edge Canton, 10-9
By: Ed Weaver | NTL Sports | March 26, 2022 | Photo courtesy Lance Larcom/ntwsportsreport.com
The Wellsboro Varsity Baseball team scored 3 runs in the top of the 7th to edge out Canton, 10-9, to start the 2022 season with a win on Friday, March 25.
"The guys never gave up and found a way to grind out the win," head coach Steve Adams said. "Scoring 3 runs in the top of the 7 showed their heart. Good win to start the season."
The Hornets jumped out to an early 5-0 lead with 3 runs in the 2nd and 2 runs in the 3rd. Senior Isaac Keane led off the 2nd with a walk and later scored on a ground ball and error by junior Blake Hamblin. Junior Cameron Brought would score in the next at bat on an error after drawing a walk after Keane. Hamblin would later score on a dropped 3rd strike during senior Dylan Abernathy's at bat.
In the 3rd sophomore Caden Smith scored as Brought grounded into a fielder's choice to make it 4-0. Brought would later score on a passed ball to put the Hornets up 5-0.
Canton got 4 of the 5 runs back that they allowed in the bottom half of the 3rd to make it a one-run game. The Hornets, however, would add 2 more runs in the 5th to pad their lead. Brought and Hamblin led off the 5th with back-to-back base hits and would later score both runs. Brought crossed home plate as senior Brody Morral reached on an error and Hamblin would score as Abernathy grounded into a fielder's choice.
Canton again would produce a 4-run inning, and this time would take their 1st lead of the afternoon at 8-7 following the bottom of the 5th. They would extend their lead to 2 runs with a run in the bottom of the 6th to make it 9-7.
In the top of the 7th Wellsboro retook the lead, and hung on for the win, with 3 runs. Hamblin singled to lead off the inning then advanced to 2nd on a Morral base hit. An Abernathy walk loaded the bases for senior Darryn Callahan. With 2 outs Callahan hit a grounder and reached on error that scored Hamblin, Morral, and Abernathy to secure the win.
Morral and Hamblin both finished 2-for-3 on the afternoon, Smith was 2-for-5, Brought and Keane were both 1-for-3, and Callahan finished 1-for-5 with 3 RBIs.
Keane started on the mound and pitched 4 innings, surrendering 8 runs (5 earned) on 4 hits with 5 strikeouts. Hamblin pitched the final 3 innings to pick up the win. He allowed 1 run on 3 hits with a strikeout.
Wellsboro starts out the season at 1-0 (1-0 NTL Large School Division). The team has a short turn around as they host Jersey Shore tomorrow afternoon.
Ed Weaver is the owner of Circle W Sports in Wellsboro, PA, is the Sports Director for The Home Page Network and the creator of WellsboroAthletics.com and WellsboroFootball.com. You can follow him on Twitter or friend him on Facebook.
