Home Page Sports

Wellsboro got off to a fast start in a 13-6 NTL Large School Division win over rival North Penn-Mansfield on Thursday, April 6.

The Hornets plated three runs in the top of the first behind a lead off double from junior Caden Smith, a base hit by senior Conner Adams, and a triple by senior Cameron Brought. Smith scored on Adams’ base hit, Brought drove in Adams, and Brought crossed home plate on a ground out by senior Blake Hamblin. The Tigers cut into Wellsboro’s lead In the bottom half of the inning. Alex Davis led off with a solo home run to center then Derek Litzelman later scored on a Kohen Lehman base hit, cutting Wellsboro’s lead to 3-2.

Wellsboro held the 3-2 lead until the top of the 4th when they added an additional 5 runs to cushion their lead.

Smith singled between 3rd and short to reach base then scored as Brought homered, making it 5-2. Back-to-back singles by Hamblin and freshman Marek Mascho would lead to two more runs. Hamblin scored as sophomore Lucas Cuneo drew a walk with the bases loaded, then Mascho scored one at bat later on a single by sophomore Alec Magli. Sophomore Ryder Bowen would also score as he reached base on a walk and was brought home as Smith drew a walk with the bases loaded, putting Wellsboro ahead, 8-2.

North Penn-Mansfield rallied in the bottom half of the inning to once again cut into the Hornets’ lead. Cody Hermansen and Andy Hermansen hit back-to-back singles to start the inning, followed by Easton Pequignot getting hit by a pitch loaded the bases for Peyton Gunderson. Gunderson singled to right field to score Cody Hermansen. After a walk by Davis, Litzelman singled scoring both Pequignot and Gunderson, making it 8-5. Davis would score the next at bat as Cooper Shaw hit a line drive to left, cutting the lead to 8-6.

In the top of the 5th the Hornets added two more runs to increase their lead. A walk by Hamblin and single by Mascho put two on for sophomore Gabe Sprouse, who doubled to left field to bring home both runners, and putting the Hornets up 10-6.

Wellsboro proceeded to add three more runs in the top of the 7th by Brought, freshman Cameron Owlett and Mascho to secure the win.

Mascho went 4-for-4 at the plate to lead the Hornets while Brought was 3-for-4, Smith and Sprouse were both 2-for-4, Magli was 1-for-3, Bowen and Hamblin were 1-for-4, and Adams was 1-for-5. Brought and Sprouse drove in 3 runs each and Smith, Adams, Hamblin, Bowen, Cuneo, and Magli all drove in runs. Mascho started and went three and a third innings to collect the win. He allowed 5 runs on 7 hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Brought came on in relief, allowing one run on 5 hits with 5 strikeouts.

“We had some guys step up today in key situations and made some plays,” Wellsboro head coach Steve Adams said. “Gabe had a big hit, he was struggling a little at the plate and he came through with a clutch hit. Magli made a diving play out in left to take some momentum away after Mansfield just scored and Cameron is hitting the ball hard. He hits a home run, comes on in relief, and does a nice job pitching. Marek Mascho did a great job on the mound, he did what we asked of him, and he went 4-for-4 at the plate. He’s starting off real well, Conner was solid in the middle, and we had contributions from everyone and I thought we did a nice job staying focused and engaged for all 7 innings.”

North Penn-Mansfield had 11 hits on the afternoon, lead by a 2-for-3 performance by Davis. Litzelman, Cody Hermansen, and Andy Hermansen were all 2-for-4, and Lehman, Pequignot, and Gunderson had the remaining hits. Shaw threw three and two third innings, surrendering 8 runs (7 earned) on 11 hits with 3 strikeouts. Karson Dominick came on in relief, allowing 5 runs on 2 hits with 3 walks and a strikeout.

The win improves the Hornets to 4-1 overall and 4-1 in the NTL Large School Division. North Penn-Mansfield falls to 1-3, both overall and in the league. The Hornets are back in action at South Williamsport on Saturday afternoon and the Tigers travel to Towanda on Tuesday, April 11.