NTL BASEBALL: CANTON USES 6-RUN SIXTH TO TOP SULLIVAN COUNTY (2021-04-24)

Northern Tier Sports Report
LAPORTE — In another high scoring affair the Warriors overcame a slow start to power their way past Sullivan County 15-8 in non-league baseball action Saturday.

Canton scored in every inning but the seventh, yet found themselves down 6-4 after the second inning. They took an 8-6 lead after a 3-run fourth, then used a 6-run sixth to pull away.

Evan Landis (3-for-3), Cam Bellows (3-for-5), and Hayden Ward (3-for-4) all had strong days at the plate. Landis had a double with three runs scored, and an RBI, as Hayden Ward knocked in two runs while scoring one, and Bellows scored twice with one RBI.

Weston Bellows (2-for-5) had 2-RBI with a double, Joel Schoonover (2-for-4) had a double with two runs and an RBI, Carter Route (2-for-3) had a run scored, and Timmy Ward (2-for-4) knocked in three runs, while crossing home twice himself.

Hudson Ward (1-for-3) had a double with two runs scored, and two RBIs, and Cooper Kitchen (1-for-4) scored a run with an RBI.

The Warriors had four pitchers on the day, beginning with Weston Bellows, who went an inning with two walks, two hits, and three earned runs.

Brendan Matthews then pitched the next 4 2/3-innings, with seven strikeouts, four walks, two hits and three runs, two of which were earned, to get the win.

Connor Baillie then tossed one-third of an inning with three walks, and one earned runs.

Kitchen finished out, striking out one with one walk, three hits and one earned run.

Evan Cummings (2-for-4) led Sullivan with a double and 2-RBI.

In the top of the first Hudson Ward was hit by a pitch, then scored on a 2-out double from Schoonover. Sullivan would get three runs in the bottom half of the inning to go up 3-1.

In the second Route led things off with a single, followed by a Timmy Ward walk, and a Kitchen single to load the bases. Route and Timmy Ward then scored on the same error to knot the game up at 3-3. 

Cam Bellows then brought in Kitchen on a single to put the Warriors up 4-3.

The Griffins answered with three runs of their own in the second, putting them up 6-4.

Canton got one back in the third as three straight walks with one out produced a run when Schoonover tied on a Timmy Ward sacrifice fly.

The Warriors would take the lead in the fourth inning as Landis and Cam Bellows led off with back to back singles. Hudson Ward then loaded the bases after getting beaned, setting up Weston Bellows’s run scoring single to knot the game up at 6-6.

After an out Hayden Ward brought in two runs with a single to put Canton up 8-6.

Canton got another run in the fifth as Landis hit a 1-out single, followed by Hudson Ward bringing him in with a 2-out double to put the Warriors up 9-6.

Then came the big inning for Canton, the top of the sixth.

Schoonover and Hayden Ward led off with back to back singles, while Route walked to load the bases.

Timmy Ward then singled in Schoonover and Hayden Ward to put the Warriors up 11-6. Gavin Morse then scored on a Kitchen sacrifice fly, followed by Landis doubling in Timmy Ward for a 13-6 lead.

Cam Bellows singled to keep the rally going, followed by Landis scoring on a Hudson Ward ground out. Weston Bellows then brought Cam Bellows home on a double for a 15-6 lead.

Sullivan rallied in the seventh, scoring two runs to try and get back in the game, but Kitchen ended the rally with a strikeout to preserve the win.

Canton (9-2) will travel to NP-Mansfield on Monday with a 4:30 p.m. start.