NTL BASEBALL: TOWANDA ROLLS PAST WYALUSING IN SEASON OPENER (2025-03-20)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
WYSOX — Towanda baseball coach Karl Raffin couldn’t have drawn up a season opening win any better as the Knights used a fast start to down Wyalusing 10-0 in five innings during NTL action Thursday.

Towanda scored nine runs in the first two innings, then got the game clinching run with two outs in the bottom of the fifth.

“It was a really good way to start the year,” Raffin said. “We played well in all facets of the game. We hit the ball when we had guys in scoring position, after the first inning Todd (Tavani) settled in, and was really efficient pitching wise, and we played an error free game.”

Tavani went the full five innings to get the 2-hit shutout. He struck out four, while allowing three walks.

“I think in the first inning he had a little bit of nerves, a little bit of jitters,” said Raffin. “But once he calmed down, and settled in, he hit spots really well, pitched ahead of the count, and pitched to contact. That’s what he has to do to be successful.”

The pitch to contact strategy worked as Towanda’s defense didn’t just play error free ball, they also turned a 5-4-3 double play, and catcher Rylee Sluyter picked off a base runner at first.

“Our defense was on point tonight, and that’s what we have to do,” Raffin said. “We have to play defense. We pitched to contact, so we had a really clean game defensively.”

Owen Lane (1-for-3) had a double with 4-RBI, while Gianni Assante (1-for-3) had a double with a run scored.

Jack Wheaton (1-for-2) and Wil Shrawder both scored twice, and drove in a run, with Dawson Butts (1-for-4) scoring twice.

Boom Thompson (1-for-1) had 2-RBI, with Tavani (1-for-3), and Lucas Vincent both crossing home.

After a rough start the Rams did settle in, getting out of a bases loaded jams in the third, and fourth innings, and almost escaping in the fifth.

Jared VandeMark came on in relief, going three innings with six strikeouts, four walks, four hits, and two runs, one of which was earned.

Owen Brown got the start, and took the loss, going 1 2/3-innings with one strikeout, six walks, two hits, and eight runs, just one of which was earned.

Marshall Huston (1-for-2), and Hunter House (1-for-1) had the two Wyalusing hits.

Towanda had five runs in the first as Tavani drew a 1-out walk, then scored a Wheaton single. After Assante drew a walk, Wheaton would score on an error off the bat of Butts for a 2-0 lead.

After a second out Shrawder drew a walk to load the bases for Lane, who cleared them with a 3-run double for the 5-0 advantage.

The Knights rallied with two outs in the second, scoring four runs as Shrawder hit a bases loaded single to bring in Wheaton.

Lane then walked in Butts, followed by Thompson driving in Vincent, and Shrawder with a single for a 9-0 lead.

Assante opened up the fifth with a double, while Butts reached on an error, followed by Vincent drawing a walk to load the bases.

VandeMark would strike out the next two batters as Wyalusing tried to extend the game, but on a passed ball courtesy runner Gage Evans scored to invoke the mercy rule win.

Wyalusing (0-2) is at Elk Lake on Saturday with an 11 a.m. start, while Towanda (1-0) is off until Tuesday when they host NP-Mansfield.

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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING

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