Hornets complete season sweep of North Penn-Mansfield

By: Ed Weaver  /  May 5, 2018  /  Photo: The Home Page Network

The Wellsboro Varsity Baseball team rattled off their sixth straight win by beating rival North Penn-Mansfield 6-3 on Friday, May 4.

"A good win for us tonight. The rivalry games with Mansfield is never predictable and tonight was no different," head coach Philip Prough said after the game.

The Tigers jumped out to a a lead in the top of the second inning as Dewey Wise led off with a walk and would come around to touch home plate to make it 1-0. Wellsboro answered back in their half of the inning to put two runs on the board.

After two back-to-back outs, freshman Kaeden Mann singled and junior Taynton Repard followed it up with a double. Sophomore Silas Wagaman singled in the next at bat scoring both Mann and Repard to give Wellsboro a 2-1 lead.

Both teams had scoreless third innings then the Tigers pounced in the top of the fourth to tie it up. Dylan Williamson led off with a base hit then later scored making it 2-2.

Again the Hornets battled back, but this time they took control with 3 runs of their own. Senior Caleb Tennis and Mann started the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back base hits and Repard walked to load the bases for Wagaman. Wagaman hit into a fielder's choice but Tennis scored to put the Hornets up 3-2. One at bat later senior Dalton Prough doubled to score both Mann and Wagaman making it 5-2.

North Penn-Mansfield cut it to 3-2 in the top of the sixth as Blaise Dietrich scored after Justin Kriner led off with a base hit. However, the Hornets again got a run on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the inning. Wagaman led off with a base hit, Prough drew a walk, and senior Johnny Rowland singled to score Wagaman putting the Hornets up 6-3.

After a brief rain delay the Tigers took the field for the top of the seventh but were unable to produce any runs.

Wagaman and Mann each finished 2-for-3 on the afternoon, Rowland was 2-for-4, Repard was 1-for-2, and Tennis and Prough each finished 1-for-3.

"The bottom of the lineup continues to prove how good they can be  delivering 5 of our 6 runs," Prough said. When they play focused, we're a tough team. Silas did well showing his skills - hitting and base running. He's just makes things happen when he gets on base."

Prough started and went six innings for the win. He scattered 3 hits, allowed 3 runs (2 earned), and had 4 walks and 4 strikeouts. Sophomore Carson Davis pitched the seventh with a strikeout to pick up the save.

"I was pleased with Dalton's pitching too. Having not pitched in 2 weeks, we were expecting some rust, but he kept competing. I think it's the first time in my 7 years that one of the rivals swept the season series. So that tells you how good the rivalry is and how good it feels for our guys to end the week with a win and completing the week sweep."

The win improves the Hornets' record to 11-2 overall and 10-1 in the NTL Large School Division standings while the Tigers fall to 6-7 (6-6 NTL Large School).

The Hornets are back in action at home three times the upcoming week: against Northeast Bradford on Monday, May 7, against Athens on Wednesday for Senior Night, and Friday against Towanda.