NTL BASEBALL: CANTON HOLDS OFF SAYRE RALLY TO STAY UNDEFEATED IN LEAGUE PLAY (2024-04-20)

Northern Tier Sports Report
CANTON — Canton baseball always has to make it interesting, and Friday was no different, as they held off a Sayre rally to win 13-11 to stay undefeated in NTL action.

“We’ve played close games all year, so being in a close game at the end, we’re used to being in that situation,” said Canton coach Ben Rubert. 

Mason Harold got the start, and win, but it was Hudson Ward doing the yeoman’s work, going 4 2/3-innings of relief with seven strikeouts, five walks, three hits, and five runs, two of which were earned.

“I just found something that was working for me, and just stuck with it,” Hudson said. “I had faith in my fielders to make some plays.”

“That’s what I expect out of Hudson,” said Rubert. “He’s a senior pitcher, he did what he had to do.”

Harold went the first two innings with two strikeouts, two walks, four hits, and five runs, two of which were earned.

Cohen Landis came in and tossed seven pitches, allowing one hit and one run. Zach Colton finished out the final third on four pitches.

They pounded out 11 hits at the plate with Michael Beers (3-for-4) leading the way, with 2-RBI and two runs scored.

Harold (2-for-4) also scored and drove in a run while Holden Ward (2-for-4) had a double with four runs scored.

Hudson was strong at the plate, too, going 3-for-5 with 3-RBI and two runs scored.

Ben Fitch (1-for-1) had an RBI with Landis, Bailey Gardner, and Rylan Wesneski all scoring runs. Gardner drove in two runs with Colton and Jason Mahosky each getting an RBI.

Canton led 5-2 after the first but Sayre used a 3-run second to tie things up. 

Canton got some separation with a 4-run third, though Sayre got one run back in the fourth. A 3-run fifth, followed by a 1-run sixth saw the Warriors build a 13-7 lead. Sayre rallied in the seventh with four runs to make it close.

In the first Holden Ward reached on an error with Hudson Ward getting a single to put two on. 

After an out Colton drove in Holden with a ground out, putting Sayre one out away from getting out of the inning.

A Ftich single kept the rally going, scoring Hudson to tie the game.

Beers then singled in pinch runner Wesneski, followed by Harold driving in Beers. Harold would score on a wild pitch for Canton’s final run of the inning.

In the third Beers led off with a hit followed by Harold reaching on an error.

A Mahosky sacrifice fly scored Beers to break the 5-5 tie.

After Landis drew a walk Holden singled to load the bases. That set up Hudson’s 2-run hit for an 8-5 lead.

An error off the bat of Gardner would put Canton up 9-5.

Sayre got one back in the fourth to make it 9-6. They would load the bases with 1-out in the fifth but a strikeout followed by a line out got Canton out of the jam.

In the bottom half of the inning Holden Ward led off with a double, followed by Hudson driving him in with a single. Hudson Ward later scored on an error for an 11-6 score.

After an out and a walk Beers drove in Gardner to make it 12-6. Sayre got one back in the top of the sixth, but in the bottom half Gardner drove in Holden Ward for a 13-7 score.

In the final inning Sayre did all their damage with two outs, using a mix of singles and errors to cut it to a 2-run game. 

Colton came in and got the final out, a ground out, to secure the win.

Canton (8-3) will travel to CV on Tuesday.

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PHOTO CAPTION: Canton’s Hudson Ward delivers to home…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING