ATHENS HOLDS OFF TROY, 14-

By: Tim Birney  /  April 8, 2021  /  Photo: David Alliger

ATHENS — Athens raced out to a 13-1 lead, thanks in large part to a nine-run third inning, then held on for a 14-9 win over Troy here Thursday afternoon in NTL Large School baseball action.

Troy struck first, scoring a run in the top of the first inning. Caleb Binford led off the game with a single, and later scored on a dropped third strike with two outs that allowed Jake Dietrick to reach base.

The Wildcats answered immediately. Junior Karter Rude singled to lead off the home half of the first inning, and sophomore Jaren Glisson followed with a walk. With one out, sophomore Mason Lister ripped a two-run double to left field to put Athens ahead 2-1.

With two outs in the bottom of the second inning, senior Ben Vough scampered home on a dropped third strike that allowed Glisson.

Sophomore Lucas Kraft and senior Kyler Setzer led off the home half of the third inning with singles, and junior Kaden Setzer stroked a line-drive RBI single to left field to make it 4-1.

A pair of walks, sandwiched around a wild pitch, gave Athens a 5-1 lead. With one out, Glisson stroked a two-run single up the middle to extend the lead to 7-1, and sophomore Cameron Sullivan followed three pitches later with a two-RBI single to left field.

The Wildcats added runs on a fielder’s choice grounder of the bat of Kyler Setzer, and RBI single by Kaden Setzer, and a passed ball to extend the lead to 12-1 after three innings.

Sullivan, the Athens starter, pitched around a double in the fourth inning, and junior Tucker Brown stroked an RBI single to score Rude, who led off the inning with a single, to make it 13-1.

Sullivan retired the first two batters in the top of the fifth, and was one out away from ending the game via the 10-run “mercy” rule, but the Trojans’ offense roared to life and scored five runs on five consecutive hits and an error.

Sullivan retired the side in order in the sixth, and the first batter in the seventh inning, but Troy put together three straight hits, and Rude was brought on in relief.

A pair of walks and a wild pitch brought home two Trojan runners in the top of the seventh inning, but Rude induced a groundball to Cameron, who moved from the mound to shortstop, to end the game.

Sullivan had two hits, two runs scored, and two RBI, and Rude had two hits, two runs scored, and four stolen bases to lead the Wildcats’ 12-hit attack, while Lister doubled and singled, scored one ru, and drove in two runs, and Kaden Setzer singled twice, scored one run, and had two RBI.

Glisson and Kyler Setzer each singled, scored two runs, and drove in two runs in the win, while Brown singled and drove in one run, Kraft singled and scored one run, and Vough and senior Tanner Dildine each crossed the plate once.

Sullivan earned his first varsity win, allowing eight runs — seven earned — on 11 hits, while striking out three and walking none. Rude walked two and allowed an unearned run in two-thirds of an inning on the mound.

Morgan Madigan had three hits, including a pair of doubles, two runs scored, and three RBI to lead the Trojans at the plate.

Athens, now 4-2, returns to action Monday at Wellsboro.