NTL BASEBALL: CANTON HOLDS OFF TROY, STORM TO GET WIN (2021-04-28)

Northern Tier Sports Report
CANTON — Canton proved their resiliency, using a pair of late 3-run innings to top Troy 9-6 in NTL baseball action Wednesday.

Troy led 3-2 after the second, but a 3-run fourth put Canton up 5-3. They would build a 9-3 lead going into the top of the seventh, when Troy rallied, but could only get three runs before the Warriors snuffed it out - just in time to beat the impending thunderstorm.

The Trojans out hit Canton 10-9, but aggressive base running by the Warriors manufactured rallies that allowed them to take the lead.

Weston Bellows (3-for-4) had a double, with 3-RBI, and a run scored, as Hayden Ward (2-for-3), and Timmy Ward (2-for-4), also had big days. Hayden Ward had a double, with two runs scored, while Timmy Ward finished with a double, and 3-RBI.

Cam Bellows (1-for-2) scored twice, as Joel Schoonover (1-for-4), also scored a run. Hudson Ward scored twice, with Bailey Ferguson also crossing home.

Brendan Matthews started, and took the win. He went six innings to strikeout three, with one walk, seven hits, and four runs, one of which was earned. Schoonover pitched the seventh, striking out two with no walks, three hits, and two runs, one of which was earned.

Kory Schucker (3-for-3) had the big bat for Troy, with two doubles, and a run scored. Morgan Madigan (1-for-2), Gavin Cohick (1-for-4), Lenny Reed (1-for-3), Dan Hoppaugh (1-for-3), and Malachi Walter (1-1) also had hits. Madigan, Reed, Hoppaugh, and Walter all scored runs.

Evan Short had an RBI, with a run scored, as Caleb Binford drove in two runs, and Schucker one.

Schucker got the start for Troy, and takes the loss, going five innings to strikeout one, with two walks, six hits, and six runs, two of which were earned.

Reed came on for two batters, walking both, and earning two earned runs. Camryn Harwick pitched the final at bat, allowing three hits, and one earned run.

In the bottom of the first Canton rallied with two outs, led off by a Weston Bellows double. He stole third, then scored on an error to put the Warriors up 1-0.

After a single by Schoonover, Hudson Ward was hit by a pitch. That set up Time Ward’s run scoring single to make it 2-0 Warriors.

In the top of the second Reed got things going with a 1-out single. Hoppaugh then singled, followed by Harwick reaching on an error to load the bases. 

Short then scored Reed in on a fielder’s choice to make it 2-1. Binford then brought in Hoppaugh and Short to put Troy up 3-2.

It stayed that way until the bottom of the fourth, when Ferguson reached on a 1-out error for Canton. Troy got a second out, but a Cam Bellows walk kept the inning going. Hayden Ward was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

That set up Ferguson scoring on a pass ball to tie the game up a 3-3, then Weston Bellows hit a slow rolling single, which allowed Cam Bellows to score.

A balk then brought in Hudson Ward to put Canton up 5-3.

The Warriors tacked on another run in the fifth, as Hayden Ward led off with a single. He would reach third base off an error, then scored on a Timmy Ward ground out as Canton pushed their lead to 6-3.

In the bottom of the sixth Cam Bellows, and Hudson Ward drew back to back walks. They performed a double steal, which set up a Weston Bellows 2-RBI single to put Canton up 8-3.

The Trojans would clear the bases with a double play, but back to back doubles by Hayden Ward, and Timmy Ward, give the Warriors another run for a 9-6 lead.

Troy didn’t give up, though, as Walter led off the seventh with a single. After two outs the Trojans rallies, beginning with a Schucker single that scored Walter. 

Madigan kept it going with a single, which set up Schucker scoring on an error. Madigan then scored on an error during a steal of third base, cutting it to 9-6.

However, Schoonover got the final out to get the win.

The Warriors are now on hiatus until next Monday as Canton goes remote, while Troy gets another tough opponent in Wellsboro on Friday.

CUTLINE: Canton’s Joel Schoonover tags out Troy’s Caleb Binford on a steal Wednesday…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING.