Hornets Open Up The Flood Gates Late In 23-4 Win Over NEB

By: Ed Weaver  /  March 31, 2023  /  Photo: Chris Manning

Wellsboro broke open a 6-4 lead after the 4th inning with 17 runs to beat Northeast Bradford 23-4 on Thursday, March 30.

The Hornets trailed 1-0 after the Panthers scored in the bottom of the 1st but quickly took the lead in the top of the 2nd. With one out freshman Marek Mascho drew a walk and freshman Drayden McGee and sophomores Lucas Cueno and Alec Magli produced three straight base hits. Senior Conner Adams also connected on a base hit and Mascho, McGee, and Cueno all scored, putting the Hornets up 3-1. Wellsboro held NEB scoreless in the bottom half of the inning and proceeded to plate three more runs to cushion their lead in the top of the 3rd.

This time Gabe Sprouse, Mascho, and McGee's bats all connected for base hit, and all three would score, making it 6-1. NEB got one run back in the bottom half of the inning and two more in the bottom of the 4th to cut the lead to 6-4.

Then the wheels fell off for the Panthers.

In the top of the 6th Wellsboro turned up the offensive intensity with 5 runs in the inning. Mascho, McGee, Cueno, junior Caden Smith and Conner Adams all crossed home plate, increasing Wellsboro's lead to 11-4. The Hornets went on to add 12 more runs in the 7th as the Panthers exhausted their pitching to close out the game.

Magli and Mascho led the Hornets at the plate, both going 3-for-4 on the afternoon. Magli had 3 RBIs and Mascho added one with 3 runs scored. Senior Cameron Brought was 2-for-6 with 3 RBIs, McGee finished 2-for-3 and scored 3 runs, while Adams, Cueno, sophomore Braeden Abernathy, and freshman Cameron Owlett were all 1-for-2 at the plate. Smith and Sprouse finished 1-for-3 and sophomore Ryder Bowen went 1-for-1 with 2 RBIs and scored a run.

Adams scored three times and drove in two, senior Blake Hamblin drove in 3 runs, freshman Dylan Copp scored twice, Smith crossed home plate 3 times along with McGee and Mascho. Magli and Abernathy also scored twice.

Smith picked up his third win of the season, allowing 7 hits and 4 runs in 4 innings of work. He struck out two and walked three. Brought came on for the final three innings to close the game out, striking out 7 and walking two.

Wellsboro improves to 3-0 overall and 3-0 in the NTL Large School Division. They are back on the field Saturday for a 3:00 p.m. non-league game with Hughesville at home.