NTL BASEBALL: YOUTHFUL TOWANDA LOOKS TO KEEP MOMENTUM GOING (March 18, 2026)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
It’ll be a year of change for Towanda as they say good-bye to a senior class that carried the team for three years. Now they say hello to plenty of faces that were waiting in the wings, plus a large freshman class aching to make their mark.

“It’s going to be different because those seniors we lost, they were our main stay,” said Towanda coach Karl Raffin. “We have a lot of positions to fill this year, we have a pretty good younger group, so we’re excited to see what some of the younger guys can do this year.”

They boast just one senior, but have 11 juniors and seniors that saw time last year, either as starters or in spot roles. Raffin is hoping last year’s success will be a good springboard into this season for them.

“That’s going to be the challenge for us this year,” he said. “We got a lot of kids that are sophomores that saw a lot of playing time last year, so hopefully they can step up, and provide some leadership.”

One of those is Boom Thompson, whose had plenty of success so far this year with three league titles under his belt.

“I’m super excited for baseball,” he said. “We have a young group this year, so it should be fun being one of the older guys on the team. It’s going to hurt - the loss of experience - but that’s how it happens, the next man-up.”

Pitching is always a concern for baseball coaches, especially if games start to pile up.

“I’m looking for Lucas Vincent to kind of take a big step forward,” Raffin said about the top spot in his staff. Vincent saw some varsity time last, and learned a lot from the departing seniors.

“They were really good role models,” he said. “They showed me what it takes to be good, so I just want to follow in their footsteps.”

Vincent is careful not to try to do too much.

“I want to work to throw harder, but throw strikes, and let the defense make plays,” he said.

Other hurlers will likely be Thompson, and Brad Assante.

“And there’s a couple wild cars, like Avery Butts,” Raffin said. “Catcher is a big concern after losing Rylee Sluyter, who was a four year starter. It’s going to be tough to fill from a defensive aspect. In the outfields is another area we need guys to kind of step up, and see whose going to take those positions. Our infield has quite a bit of experience - we feel good about our infield, but the catching position, and the outfield are two spots that are kind of up in the air.”

Thompson feels the open positions will help bring out the best in his teammates.

“Everyone’s on their A-game trying to win the spot,” he said. “No one has anything secured, so it’s going to be interesting.”

After a drought last year’s squad made the playoffs, and Raffin would like to make it a two years in a row.

“We turned it around over the last couple of years,” he said. “A big thing this year I just kind of build on the success we had last year, and try to be a little bit better.”

SCHEDULE
Mar 21 vs Athens, 11 a.m.
Mar 24 vs Wyalusing, 4:30 p.m.
Mar 25 at NPM, 4:30 p.m.
Mar 31 vs Wellsboro, 4:30 p.m.
April 2 at Troy, 4:30 p.m.
April 4 vs Elk Lake, 11 a.m.
April 7 at Canton, 4:30 p.m.
April 9 at NEB, 4:30 p.m.
April 14 at Athens, 4:30 p.m.
April 16 vs Wyalusing, 4:30 p.m.
April 20 at South Williamsport, 4:30 p.m.
April 21 vs NPM, 4:30 p.m.
April 23 at Wellsboro, 4:30 p.m.
April 28 vs Troy, 4:30 p.m.
April 30 vs Williamson, 4:30 p.m.
May 5 at CV, 4:30 p.m.
May 7 at Sayre, 4:30 p.m.
May 8 vs Edison, 4:45 p.m.
May 11 at Notre Dame, 4:30 p.m.
May 12 at St. John Neumann, 4:30 p.m.

ROSTER (Grade)
Sammy Fulmer (12)
Lucas Vincent (11)
Hudson Stevens (11)
Lincoln Barrett (11)
Avery Butts (11)
Gabe Fuller (10)
Boom Thompson (10)
Shane Maghamez (10)
Brad Assante (10)
Cooper Chamberlain (10)
Gage Evans (10)
Lincoln Nash (10)
Harper Welles (9)
Blake Spencer (9)
Jason Wickwire (9)
Gabe Wolf (9)
Ashton Vischansky (9)
Patrick McPeak (9)
Hayden Blake (9)
Leo Finnery (9)
Scott Kjelgaard (9)



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