Hornets fall to Troy 3-0 in pitchers duel

By: Ed Weaver  /  April 6, 2018  /  Photo: Joe Carreon

The Wellsboro Varsity Baseball team suffered their first loss of the season to Troy in extra innings on Thursday, April 5.

Both teams struggled coming up with base hits on the afternoon and failed to score runs in regulation. Wellsboro had a chance to end the game in the bottom of the 7th, however. Sophomore Carson Davis led off the inning with a walk, and got into scoring position on a fielder's choice and passed ball, but senior Dalton Prough flied out to center field to end the inning.

Ja Wallace led off the top of the 8th with a walk then Tyler Williams tripled in the next at bat to put Troy on the scoreboard, 1-0. Nate Martin then singled to score Williams making it 2-0. Bailey Cohick hit into a fielder's choice and back-to-back base hits by Brandon Zechman and Michael Borden scored Cohick making it 3-0.

Down to their final inning, senior Johnny Rowland singled to lead off the bottom of their 8th, but the next three Hornets struck out to secure the win for Troy.

"Tonight's loss was tough but we'll be able to take some learning points away from it," said head coach Philip Prough. "It was a pitchers duel for 7 innings. We left 9 men on base through those innings with multiple chances to score. We didn't execute in some situations and let them in the game. Give Troy credit, they fought all night. In the 8th, they strung some hits together and that was the game."

Rowland and sophomore Lucas Citrino had Wellsboro's only two hits on the afternoon. Prough started and went 7 innings and allowed one hit and 3 walks on 93 pitches while striking out 4. Junior Taynton Repard and sophomore Billy Lechler also saw time on the mound with Repard earning the loss.

The loss drops the Hornets to 1-1 (1-1 NTL Large School Division). The team will be back in action this afternnon as they host Sugar Valley Rural Charter.