BRADFORD-TIOGA HEAD START WILLIAMS AUTO GROUPWysox Sand & Gravel BUILDING No. 9 GRILLE Northern Tier Sports ReportFlynn Propane GANNON'S FCCBBC Tourism




NTL BASEBALL: TOWANDA EYES A STRONG SEASON IN 2021 (2021-04-05)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Two years ago Towanda seemed to pull their program out of a multi-year slump.

In 2018 and 2019 they had back to back winning records, and looked to be building a team that could challenge for an NTL Division-I title. Then Covid-19 hit.


One thing they can lean on, though, is that their seniors this year haven’t had a losing record in their careers.


“We’ve got some good seniors this year,” said coach Karl Raffin. “We expect a lot out of Haven Benjamin-Fee. Mason Johnson, fortunately, is good to go with his knee injury he sustained in football. It’s great to have him back. Ethan Sparrow’s a senior this year we have a lot of expectations with, as with Will Pitcher. We have some high expectations with Will as well.”


Most of their ability comes on the mound. 


Sparrow threw for 19 innings with 4.80 ERA as he struck out 12 and walked nine two years ago. Pitcher saw 18 2/3-innings on the mound with 3.00 ERA. He had 11 strikeouts to just four walks.


Raffin also noted that junior Octavious Chacona was a big contributor two years ago as a freshman. He hit .263 as a freshman with 4-RBI.


On the mound Chacona pitched 22 2/3-innings with 14 strikeouts and 21 walks. He had a 4.94 ERA.


“We’re hoping he can build on that,” said the coach.


But early this season those players are buried pretty deep inside


“Right now there’s a lot of rust,” said Raffin. “The kids are just trying to figure their swings out again. We’ll see how quickly they can catch up and get up to speed.”


Overcoming the long lay-off to get a fast start will be important as they're a couple weeks behind most of the NTL - and face Athens, the defending 2019 NTL Champions, right off the bat.


“That will be a big determining factor because we start out with league games right off the bat,” said Raffin.


The weather has been decent so far this year, but between some cold spells and heavy rain they’ve been on and off the field.


“That’s the way it is every year,” said Raffin. “It is what it is. All the other teams are in the same boat as us. We’re in the same situation, it just matters who comes out of the gates the quickest.”


It doesn’t mean they haven’t taken some initiative as they get ready for the season.


“We’ve been working from mid-January on with our pitchers,” said Raffin. “So hopefully that helps us early in the season.”


A couple years ago the PIAA instituted a pitch count limit, so instead of tracking pitchers by inning they can now only throw 100 pitches a day, and 200 in a week. That puts a premium on pitching, and a premium on pitching to contact.


“We have about nine different guys that we work as far as pitching goes,” said Raffin. “It’s a different ball game now, you’re not really looking at strikeouts as much as you are pitching to contact, and hopefully keeping the pitch count down.”


If pitching is the key to winning baseball games, then winning the pitch count battle may be biggest aspect of any game.


“That’s the kind of stress we’ve been stressing, throwing strikes and getting ahead in the count,” said Raffin. “Trying to keep guys off the base path with walks so you don’t run your pitch count up too quick.”




You've asked about helping ...
here's your chance. Click HERE