Big 3rd Inning Helps Hornets Knock Off Undefeated CV

By: Ed Weaver  /  April 12, 2026

The Wellsboro Varsity Baseball team dug themselves out of an early hole to edge previously undefeated Cowaneque Valley, 7-5, on Saturday afternoon.

"Great win for our team today against a very good Cowanesque Valley team," said head coach Kyle Smith. "It was a well played baseball game and we were able to make enough plays to secure the win. The competitive pressure we faced today will help us moving forward."

The Indians scored three runs to start the game to take an early lead, however the Hornets began to dig themselves out in the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore Griffin Morral led off the inning with a base knock to center then senior Marek Mascho singled to put two on with one out. Two at bats later junior Max Mascho hit a line drive to center, scoring both Morral and old brother Marek, cutting CV's lead down to 3-2.

After a scoreless 2nd inning from both teams the Hornets held CV scoreless again in the top of the 3rd, then made their charge in the bottom of the inning with 4 runs.

Junior Coen Tennis was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning then sophomore Kody Enck was subbed in as a courtesy runner. With one out senior Cameron Owlett ripped a double to move Enck over to third. He scored one at bat later as junior Syler Pietrzyk singled to 2nd to tie the score at 3-all. A single by freshman Gage Baltzley in the next at bat scored Owlett to give the Hornets their first lead of the day, then a Morral double scored both Baltzley and sophomore Reed Richardson, who bunted into a fielder's choice, giving the Hornets a 6-3 lead.

Cowanesque Valley scored twice in the top of the 5th to cut the lead down to 6-5, but Wellsboro added one more run in the bottom half of the inning for the win.

Baltzley doubled to lead off the 5th, then later scored on a dropped 3rd strike during Richardson's ensuing at bat.

The Indians went down in order in the 6th, then later in the 7th had two runners on base before the Hornets forced a pop out to Max Mascho at 1st base.

Wellsboro out-hit CV 11-5, led by Morral's 3-for-4 day (2 RBIs and one run scored) at the plate. Baltzley finished 2-for-2 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored and Marek Mascho went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Sophomore Gabe Cuneo, Max Mascho, Owlett, and Pietrzyk added the remaining hits.

Marek Mascho got the win on the mound, allowing 5 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits with 6 walks and 3 strikeouts in 4 & 2/3 innings of work. Baltzley came on in relief for the final 2 and 1/3 innings, walking two, for the save.

The win improves the Hornets' record to 4-1 (4-0 NTL Large School Division). The team is back in action against Athens later today, in a neutral site game at PNC Field in Moosic, PA.