Hornets top Sayre, 4-3; snap five-game losing streak

By: Ed Weaver  /  April 25, 2017

The Wellsboro Varsity Baseball team snapped a five-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over Sayre on Tuesday, April 25.

Sayre scored two early runs in the top of the first. Singles by Jordan Rockwell and Connor Hanafin to put two runners on board. Connor Hanafin drove in Rockwell then a double by Quinn Hanafin scored Connor Hanafin.

The Hornets' offense struggled through the first two innings, bu woke up in the third. Freshman Silas Wagaman led off with a single, then stole a base to move into scoring position. A single by freshman Billy Lechler with two outs brought Wagaman home to make it 2-1 in favor of Sayre. Lechler later scored on a base hit by junior Caleb Tennis to tie it at 2-2.

Both teams scored runs in the fifth to again tie it at 3-3. Chris Ray scored for the Redskins on an RBI single by Nate Sweet in the top half of the inning, then Lechler scored his second run of the game. Lechler led off with a single then was moved over to second on a sacrifice fly by freshman Carson Davis. A base hit by Caleb Tennis moved Lechler to third before junior Johnny Rowland drove him home to even up the score.

Sayre went three-up, three-down in the top of the sixth and the Hornets capitalized off the momentum from the previous inning. Wagaman again singled to led off the bottom half of the sixth. Junior Dalton Prough singled and sophomore Cam Tennis laid down a sacrific bunt to advance the runners. Lechler was intentionally walked at his next at bat to get to Davis. Davis made the Redskins pay on a sacrific fly to center field to score Wagaman to give Wellsboro the 4-3 lead.

Wellsboro again had another 1, 2, 3 inning in the top of the seventh. James Esposito fly out to second base to lead off the inning then Rowland struck out Jon Cron and Ray to end the game.

Rowland pitched a complete game, giving up 8 hits with 5 strikeouts on 85 pitches to improve to 3-2 on the year.

"Last night we met up with a good pitching performance. Tonight, it was our turn," said head coach Philip Prough. "Johnny pitched his best game. Because he stayed within himself and wasn't afraid of contact. They hit him hard a couple of times, but he's maturing to know that's okay. He stayed with his game plan and just went to work on the next batter. He relies on his defense and they backed him up tonight."

Lechler was 2-for-2 with a walk to lead Wellsboro at the plate, Wagaman was 2-for-3, and Caleb Tennis was 2-for-4. Prough, junior Brent English, and Rowland had the other hits for Wellsboro.

"Offensively, we executed the small ball plays to keep pressure on them," continued Prough. "Bunting, sacrifice flies and good base running. Add in 9 hits and you'll win a lot of games with that formula. Overall, after a dismal effort last night, it's nice to see all of our players come to the park ready to play. They could have been down in the dumps, but rather chose to come to play. That's a valuable lesson I hope our young team has learned. Because last night's loss won't be the last loss we have. But tonight's win won't be our last either."

The Hornets (4-5, 4-4 NTL Large School Division) will be back in action on Friday, April 28 at Cowanesque Valley.