NTL BASEBALL: CANTON USES BIG 7TH INNING TO DOWN NEB (2024-04-26)

Northern Tier Sports Report
ROME — The bats were alive along Panther Lane as Canton used a 4-run seventh inning to down NEB, 13-9, during NTL baseball action Friday.

The victory keeps the Warriors undefeated in league play, and helps them nearly clinch another Small School title.

Canton had 11 hits - seven of them of the extra base variety - while Bailey Gardner and Hudson Ward had home runs. 

Not to be out done, NEB had 14 hits in the game, 10 of them coming against Canton ace, Holden Ward.

Canton jumped out to a 7-3 lead after two, but a 4-run third in NEB’s favor saw them tie the game up. Both teams scored runs in the fourth and sixth innings to keep things tied, until the 4-run seven by Canton.

For the Warriors Holden Ward (2-for-5) had a double, a triple, three runs scored, and 2-RBI as Gardner (2-for-5) had a double to go with his home run, with three runs scored and an RBI.

Zach Colton (2-for-4) had a double with 2-RBI and a run scored as Hudson Ward (1-for-4) had two runs scored and 2-RBI with his homer.

Michael Beers (1-for-3) had a double with an RBI as Ben Fitch (1-for-3) scored twice and drove in two runs.

Jason Mahosky (1-for-4) and Cohen Landis (1-for-4) each had a hit with Landis scoring a run, while Mason Harold drove one in.

Holden Ward went 4 2/3-innings for a no decision. He struck out nine with 10 hits, two walks, and eight runs, three of which were earned.

Colton went the final 2 1/3-innings with the win, striking out three with two hits, no walks, and one unearned run.

Josh Stanton (4-for-5) had 2-RBI with a run scored to lead the Panthers as Cayden McPherson (3-for-4) had a double with 2-RBI and a run scored.

Kohen Hugo (2-for-4) scored a run, along with Clay Wiggins (1-for-4), Connor Johnson (1-for-4), Tanner Judson (1-for-4), and Ethan Hunsinger (1-for-4). Johnson had 2-RBI with Hunsinger driving in one run.

Dillon Donnelly (1-for-4) also had a hit.

Stanton got the start, and loss, going 5 2/3-innings with four strikeouts, six hits, one walk, and eight runs, two of which were earned.

Wiggins went the final 1 1/3-innings with one strikeout, no walks, three hits, five runs, and one earned.

The Warriors were hot out of the gate as Holden Ward led off with a double, followed by Hudson Ward taking a 2-1 pitch over center field for the home run, making it 2-0.

NEB got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Josh Stanton was driven in by Hugo.

In the second Mahosky led off with a hit, followed by Holden Ward reaching two batters later. After an intentional walk to Hudson Ward NEB got another out as they looked to get out of the inning unscathed.

Gardner, though, rocked a 2-run double to make it 4-1, followed by a Fitch 2-run single for a 6-1 score. Beers then doubled in Fitch to put Canton up 7-1.

NEB rallied in the bottom half of the inning, also with two outs. They got three straight singles from Judson, Hunsinger, and Donnelly to load the bases. That set up Josh Stanton’s 2-run single to make it 7-3.

NEB would get the rally caps going in the third as Hugo reached on an error, then Puza walked. A McPherson hit drove in Hugo, with Jonson then bringing in Puza to make it 7-5.

Hunsinger would bringing Ransomme VanRiper - McPherson’s courtesy runner - as Johnson scored on a steal of home to knot the game up at 7-7.

The Warriors got one back in the fourth as Gardner led off with a double, then stole home with two outs.

NEB came right back as Wiggins reached, then scored on a McPherson double to tie the game up at 8-8.

Gardner would hit a solo shot on a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence to put the Warriors up 9-8, but the Panthers hung around in the bottom half of the inning. McPherson would double, take third on a steal, then score on a Johnson sacrifice fly to make it 9-9.

Canton had the final say, though, scoring four runs in the seventh - all with two outs. Fitch would reach on an error, then scored on a Harold sacrifice fly.

Mahosky and Landis reached in back to back at bats, followed by Holden Ward driving them in with a triple. 

Hudson Ward plated his brother to make it 13-9. 

In the bottom half of the inning Colton retired three of the four batters he faced to secure the win.

NEB (8-4) hosts Sayre on Tuesday while Canton (10-3) will welcome Sullivan County.