NTL BASEBALL: CANTON LOOKS TO DEFEND NTL TITLE (2025-03-17)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Canton baseball comes in as defending NTL Small School champions, but they also have something to prove after being ousted in the first round of districts last year.

“I’m excited,” said coach Ben Rubert. “I’m excited that we get to practice on our field as early as we are. I’m looking forward to another good year. We bring back a lot of guys who’ve been around, and who have played for me for a couple years.”

They’ve won the Small School title the last two seasons under Rubert, and, despite some turnover, have done well with their next man up philosophy.

“I’m pretty excited after a successful season last year,” said Ben Fitch. “I hope we can build on that and have another successful season.”

As with every year there are holes to replace, but the players feel they’ve been down this road before.

“We lost four guys, so we’re going to have get some underclassmen to step up,” Zack Colton said. “But other than that, we return quite a bit. We’ve got a lot of experience, like going to districts, and winning small school.”

The holes might be filled by committee, according to Rubert, instead of one replacing one.

“It might take us 14, 15 kids to be in a position to win a game, combining some different players, and doing some different things,” he remarked. “I don’t necessarily want to say just one kid, it’s going to take all of them.”

The biggest returnee is Holden Ward, both on the mound, and at the plate. However, they might need to tread water as Ward recovers from offseason surgery.

“Holden is a game changer,” Rubert said. “Last year he was Player of the Year. Our whole team plays better when Holden is on the mound, like there’s a level of comfort in knowing that he’s on the mound.”

Ward threw 55 innings a year ago with a 2.8 ERA, and 71 strikeouts. At the plate he hit .435 with eight doubles, four triples, and 21-RBI.

Still, Rubert believes they can stay afloat until he can get back, especially on the mound.

“We bring back Zack Colton from last year, who ate up a lot of innings, big innings, and who pitched in some key moments. Then we’ve got some younger guys who pitched a lot of JV, and, honestly, Bailey Gardner, who caught all last year for us, is going to have to eat up some innings on the mound, so we do have some options.”

Colton threw 37 innings a year ago with 2.081 ERA.

“We should still be pretty deep,” Colton said. “We’ve got some kids that pitched JV last year - not as much varsity experience - but I think that we should be alright.”

At the plate Fitch hit .328 a year ago, while Gardner drove in 19 runs. However, three of their top six regulars are gone, leaving some holes to fill.

That means they might have to manufacture runs a different way.

“We’re working on smart base running,” said Fitch. “How to steal runs with base running.”

League wise things look a little different with NEB not fielding a team, they’ve been one of the better divisional opponents Canton has had.

CV, and Sayre still loom, though, along with Williamson.

“We always want to compete for Small School, and hopefully win it,” said Fitch. “We know we’ve got some tough competition, and we’re going to have to play well if we want to win.”

Then comes districts, where Canton has run into a green wall over the last two seasons as they’ve been knocked out by eventual district champions Wyalusing.

Last year was particularly painful as they had the Rams on the ropes, only to see them pull out a win, then go on to make the state semifinals.

“That game haunts me,” Rubert said. “But I’m excited, especially the fact that we’re bringing back that group of seniors who were a part of that game last year. They all remember that, and so hopefully having some senior leadership that wants to go farther this year will take us there.”

Motivation is one thing they group won’t need come playoff time.

“It’s a good motivating factor, just knowing that we were that close,” Colton said. “I think we have the guys to do it again, so I think we are all motivated.”

ROSTER

Aaden Dowling

Bailey Gardner

Ben Fitch

Blake Jackson

Brayden Tucker

Carson Castle

Holden Ward

Isaiah Colton

John Whitehead

Lee Tubach

Luke Crawley

Manny Halbfoerster

Michael Ackley

Michael Beers

Reed Taylor

Rylan Wesneski

Tommy Preston

Zach Colton

SCHEDULE

Mar 18 vs Sayre, 4:30 p.m.

Mar 20 vs CV, 4:30 p.m.

Mar 25 at NEB, 4:30 p.m.

April 1 at Williamson, 4 p.m.

April 3 at Towanda, 4:30 p.m.

April 5 at South Williamsport, 1 p.m.

April 8 at NPM, 4:30 p.m.

April 10 vs Troy, 4:30 p.m.

April 17 at Sullivan County, 4:30 p.m.

April 19 vs Millville, 11 a.m.

April 22 at Sayre, 4:30 p.m.

April 24 at CV, 4:30 p.m.

April 26 vs Bucktail, 10 a.m.

April 29 vs NEB, 4:30 p.m.

May 3 vs Muncy, 11 a.m.

May 6 vs Williamson, 4:30 p.m.

May 8 vs Wellsboro, 4 p.m.

May 10 at Troy, 10 a.m.

May 12 at Wyalusing, 4:30 p.m.

May 14 vs Athens, 4:30 p.m.

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