NTL BASEBALL: FITCH'S LEGS LIFT CANTON TO WALK-OFF WIN OVER SAYRE (2025-03-18)

Northern Tier Sports Report
CANTON — Canton’s Ben Fitch ran his way around the bases to score the game winning run against Sayre during NTL baseball opening day action Tuesday. He took home in the bottom of the eighth on an overthrow to third off a steal attempt for a walk-off win over the Redskins, 8-7.

It was back and forth all evening long as Sayre led 5-2 in the middle of the second, only for Canton to rally and take a 7-6 lead after five.

Sayre tied it up in the top of the sixth, and it stayed that way until the eighth.

Fitch (3-for-3) had a double with three runs scored, as Michael Beers (3-for-4) had a double with 2-RBI.

Bailey Gardner (1-for-3) had a double with an RBI, and three runs scored, while Tommy Preston (1-for-4) scored, and drove in a run.

Rylan Wesneski drove in a run, and had an RBI, as Zack Colton, and Carson Castle both drove in runs. Reed Taylor (1-for-3) also had a hit.

Colton went the final six innings to get the win, striking out 10 with four hits, two walks, and one earned run.

Gardner started, and went one inning with two strikeouts, three walks, one hit, and three runs, one of which was earned.

Wesneski tossed the second inning with two hits, three walks, and three runs, two of which were earned.

Sayre scored three runs with two outs in the top of the first to take the lead but in the bottom half Canton loaded the bases. Colton drove in Fitch when he was hit by a pitch, then after an out Wesneski brought in Gardner on a base on balls.

Sayre added two more runs in the top of the second, but Canton rallied in the bottom half as Fitch hit a 1-out double, then scored on a Gardner double.

Beers brought Gardner home on a hit for a 5-4 score.

Sayre made it 6-4 in the third, and it stayed that way until the bottom of the fourth when Gardner reached on a dropped third strike, later scoring on a Beers double to make it a 1-run game.

After Canton got out of a jam in the top of the fifth they went back to work in the bottom half of the inning, with Wesneski reaching first after getting beaned.

Preston drove him home with a single, then two batters later Castle hit a sacrifice fly to right that brought in Preston for the 7-6 lead.

Sayre tied it back up in the top of the sixth with nobody threatening until the bottom of the eight.

Fitch would draw a lead-off walk, then stole second. He would break for third, with the throw heading into left field. That allowed Fitch to score, giving Canton the win.

Canton (1-0) will host CV on Saturday.

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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING

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