ATHENS STARTS FAST IN 12-2 WIN OVER TROY; FIRST WINS FOR HAVENS, LISTER

By: Tim Birney  /  March 30, 2021  /  Photo: Chris Manning

EAST TROY — Athens scored eight runs in the top of the first inning, and sophomore Mason Lister tossed three no-hit innings to earn his first varsity win in a 12-2 five-inning decision over Troy here Tuesday afternoon in NTL Large School baseball action.

The win was also the first career varsity win for first-year Athens coach Charlie Havens, who spent 20 years (18 at Waverly and two at Corning) as a JV coach.

“I felt like we let one get away from us last week at Canton,” said Havens. “To come back and get that first win out of the way feels pretty good.”

Junior Karter Rude led off the game with a single, and sophomore Jaren Glisson worked a walk. Consecutive wild pitches gave Athens a quick 1-0 lead, and left Glisson at third base.

After a walk to sophomore Cam Sullivan, Lister ripped an RBI double to make it 2-0. Moments later, sophomore Lucas Kraft stroked an RBI single to up the lead to 3-0.

Consecutive walks to junior Kyler Setzer, senior Ben Vough and junior Josiah Stringham forced home two runs to make it 5-0. Rude stroked a two-run single push the lead to 7-0, and Lister capped the rally with an RBI single.

“We really came out swinging and we were aggressive on the base paths,” said Havens. “It was good to get guys moving, and see what we could do.

“We hit the ball really well, especially in that first inning, then we tacked on a few runs throughout the game,” he added.

The Wildcats added a run in the second and two more to extend the lead to 11-0.

Meanwhile, Lister fanned seven and walked four in three innings of no-hit ball.

“He’s thrown six innings of one-hit ball so far this year,” said Havens.

“As the game goes on, and the more pitches he throws, he gets stronger, and really starts pounding the strike zone,” added Havens. “He’s been really good for us.”

Lister has struck out 14 and walked six in six innings this season.

Rude singled twice, scored two runs, and drove in two runs to lead Athens at the plate, while Lister doubled, scored one run, and knocked in two runs, and Kraft singled, scored run, and had one RBI.

Kyler Setzer scored three runs in the win, while Vough had two RBI and one runs scored, Glisson scored two runs, Stringham scored one run and drove in one run, and Sullivan crossed the plate once.

Glisson allowed one run on two hits, while striking out two in one inning of relief, and Rude allowed an unearned run on two hits, with two strikeouts and one walk.

Athens, now 1-1, returns to action Monday at Cowanesque Valley in a game that was originally scheduled for Thursday.