Northern Tier Sports ReportWYSOX — After playing for over three hours on Wednesday Towanda had enough to come back and top Wyalusing, 6-2, in NTL baseball action Thursday.
The Knights jumped out with four runs in the first and the two teams were even after that. The Rams pushed runs across in the fourth and fifth innings to cut it to 4-2, but Towanda came back with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to re-extend the lead.
“It was almost like a continuation of our game with Troy last night, where we were swinging the bat all night,” said Towanda coach Karl Raffin. “We just came out swimming the bats again tonight. I’m a little disappointed that we kind of didn’t do anything the second, third, fourth, and fifth innings, but I was glad that at the end of the game we were able to put a couple runs on to get a little bit of insurance.”
The win avenges an early season loss to the Rams where they fell in a walk-off.
“It was a tough way to start the season,” said Raffin. “We didn’t put the ball in play that first game very much. So it was good to come out today, put four runs on the board right off the bat, and beat your rival team.”
It was a big day from Brad Assante, who went the distance for the win with seven strikeouts, two walks, five hits, and two runs, one of which was earned.
He was also 2-for-3 at the plate with 2-RBI and a run scored.
Harper Welles (2-for-4) scored, and drove in a run, as Shane Maghamez (1-for-4) had a double, a run scored, and an RBI.
Boom Thompson, Lucas Vincent, and Gage Evans (1-for-2) all crossed home, with Avery Butts getting an RBI.
For Wyalusing Landry Tinna (1-for-3) had a double with a run scored, as Griffin Sheldon (2-for-4) had a multi-hit game.
Campbell Carr (1-for-3) drove in a run as Marshall Huston scored, and had an RBI.
Gage Tinna (1-for-3) and Michael Phillips (1-for-4) both had hits.
Jared VandeMark started, and went four 1/3-innings with four strikeouts, three walks, six hits, and six runs, five of which were earned.
Carr tossed the final 1 2/3-innings with one hit.
Wyalusing threatened in the top of the first but Assante got three straight strikeouts to end the threat.
In the bottom half of the inning Thompson led off by getting hit by a pitch, then later scored on a Welles single for the 1-0 lead.
After a walk to Vincent Maghamez doubled in Welles to make it 2-0.
Evans kept the rally going with a walk, followed by Assante singling in Vincent. Butts would make it 4-0 with a sacrifice fly that plated Maghamez.
The defenses settled in until the fourth when Huston led off with a walk. After an out Gage Tinna singled, setting up Carr driving in Huston to make it 4-1.
Landry Tinna led off the fifth with a double, with Sheldon moving him over to third on a single. A ground out from Huston brought him in to make it a 2-run ball game.
In the bottom half of the inning Evans hit a 1-out single, then scored on an Assante hit. After a second out an error off the bat of Hagen Jones allowed Assante to score for the 6-2 final.
Towanda (4-3) travels to South Williamsport on Monday, while Wyalusing (2-6) welcomes Troy on Tuesday.
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING
