Hornets fall to Mount Carmel in D4 Quarterfinals

By: Ed Weaver  /  May 23, 2021  /  Photo: Nick Coyle

A (red) tornado came rolling through Wellsboro as #6 seed Mount Carmel upset the #3 seed Hornets in the quarterfinals of the PIAA District IV Class AAA playoffs on Saturday, May 22.

"Although today wasn’t our day I am proud of what the boys accomplished this year," head coach Steve Adams said.

Wellsboro did jump out to an early lead in the bottom of the 1st as junior Darryn Callahan scored on an RBI ground out by junior Isaac Keane to make it 1-0. The lead was short-lived, however, as Mount Carmel put up 6 runs in the top of the 2nd to put a 5-run cushion between themselves at the host Hornets, a lead which they would never relinquish. The Hornets added two runs in the bottom half of the inning, one by junior Brody Morral (pinch running for Zach Rowland) and junior Dylan Abernathy. Abernathy doubled to score Morral then later scored on an RBI single by senior Brock Hamblin.

The Red Tornadoes increased their lead to 8-2 with two more runs in the top of the third before they exploded for 11 more runs over the final three innings. Wellsboro's final two runs came in the 3rd and 4th innings. Keane hit a solo home run in the 3rd and freshman Caden Smith scored on a sac fly by sophomore Conner Adams.

The loss ends the NTL Large School Division champs' season with a 12-8 record, along with the careers of seniors Rowland, Hamblin, Kaeden Mann, and Landon Goetsch.

Hamblin finished his career 16-for-65 (.246) with 24 runs scored, 4 doubles, 7 RBIs, 19 walks, and 13 strikeouts. Rowland was 21-for-68 (.309) with 18 runs, 1 double, 1 triple, 13 RBIs, 14 walks, and 23 strikeouts. Mann was 48-for-163 (.294) with 51 runs, 9 doubles, 3 home runs, 30 RBIs, 25 walks, and 27 strikeouts. Goetsch was 2-for-12 (.167) with 3 runs, an RBI, 1 walk, and 7 strikeouts.