Northern Tier Sports ReportWYALUSING — Up until Friday it had been a rough week for Wyalusing, as they had lost two of their last three games. However, they couldn’t have ended the week any better, as they defeated the District IV, Class AA defending champions Sayre, 2-0, in NTL baseball action.
“It was a great game,” said Wyalusing coach Nick Vanderpool. “Both starters pitched great, got out of some tough jams. (I’m) proud of the boys, and the way they competed.”
They did it on the strength of Blake Morningstar’s arm, as he went 5 1/3-innings, striking out 11 with three hits, and five walks.
“It was a great win tonight,” said Morningstar. “Sayre is a super good squad that’s solid from top to bottom. We knew it was going to be a dog fight, and we came ready to play.”
Hunter House then came in to get the final five outs, going 1 2/3-innings, with one walk, no hits, and two strikeouts.
“Blake pitched phenomenal,” said Vanderpool. “Hunter House, as a freshman, has ice in his veins. Got five huge outs, and the boys played lights out D. Both teams failed to get the clutch hit needed. The fans got a great game to watch, a great end to a great regular season.”
The two hurlers limited Sayre to three hits - two of which were extra base hits, including a triple from Zach Garrity - but they never broke defensively.
Trehnon Hugo (1-for-4) and Robert English (1-for-3) scored the two runs, was C.J. Carr (1-for-1) had an RBI.
Nick Vanderpool Jr. (2-for-3) had a multi-hit game, with Hunter Moss (1-for-3), Kenny Mapes (1-for-3), and Blake Morningstar (1-for-3) also getting hits.
Kannon VanDuzer took the loss for Sayre, going 5 1/3-innings with five strikeouts, three walks, seven hits, and two runs, one of which was earned.
The Rams scored right off the bat in the bottom of the first, with Hugo hitting a single on the first pitch. After Moss reached on an error, Hugo would score on a dropped third strike against Morningstar to make it 1-0.
Wyalusing’s next run came in the fourth, as Wyalusing got three straight singles from English, Vanderpool, and Mapes to load the bases.
Carr then did a job, scoring English on a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
The win could potentially propel Wyalusing back into the first place spot in the District IV, Class AA standings that Sayre took from them this week, but, either way, expect them to be the top two seeds come the playoffs.
In fact, they’re already looking forward to their next possible game in the district championship.
“(I’m) really looking forward to that match-up in the postseason,” said Morningstar.
