Shyder, Montgomery end Canton's district dreams.
By: Chris Manning | Towanda Daily Review | June 4, 2012 | Photo courtesy Chris Manning
2012 NTL and District 4 News
WILLIAMSPORT - Montgomery's Garrett Shnyder was the man of the hour Saturday.
The Red Raider ace silenced the Canton bats, allowing just three hits, no walks and no runs scored to lead Montgomery to a 4-0 win in the District IV, Class A baseball title game.
"He's a tough pitcher," Canton coach Bob Rockwell said. "We knew going in we had to try make some things happen because you're not going to just sit there and hit him. We did a couple things we didn't execute, we didn't string them together. You've got to give him credit, he's tough."
As the game wore on Canton was able to get the bat on the ball but couldn't find a hole.
"They made nice plays," Rockwell said. "Give them credit, they made the plays. I think we hit the ball as hard as they did but they found the holes and we didn't. That's the way it goes."
Canton's own starter Garrett Wesneski had a shaky start, hitting the first two batters he saw. Then on a Shnyder sacrifice Alex Worthington was able to score from second to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
They added three more in the bottom of the fourth as John Goetz was walked in with the bases loaded by Wesneski.
Corey Kriner, the number nine batter for Montgomery, then hit a hard, choppy grounder off Scott Rockwell's glove to drive in two more runs for the Red Raiders.
Canton ended the threat as they caught Tom Goetz in a run down trying to go home. Jacob Butcher threw to Rockwell, who tagged him out at third but the damage was done.
And that's more than Shnyder needed.
Canton only got one runner in scoring position in one inning as Josiah Barto led off the third with a double. Derek Wilcox moved him over to third on a sacrifice where the Warriors tried to squeeze him home. That didn't work as Ben Pepper's bunt was popped up and caught by Shndyer, who doubled off Barto at third to end the threat.
Rockwell singled to lead off the fourth but was caught trying to steal second. In the seventh Conner Route led off with a single but Emmett Watson followed by hitting into a double play.
After his shaky start Wesneski settled in, retiring nine batters in a row at one point before the fourth. He lost the strikezone in that inning, walking three batters.
"He had a few walks that hurt us," Rockwell remarked. "He had some border line pitches that just didn't go his way."
The sophomore starter, who actually had a no hitter going through three innings, finished with four strikeouts, three walks, three hits and four earned runs.
Chase Pepper came in for the final two innings, striking out three while issuing no walks or hits.
Bardo went 1-for-2 at the plate while Rockwell and Conner Route both went 1-for-3.
On the Red Raider's side Kriner, Worthington and Shnyder all went 1-for-2 while Kriner added 2-RBI. Shnyder and Tom Goetz had the other two RBI.
Despite the loss Rockwell was pleased with his team's season.
"Any time you make it to a district final it's a good season," he said. "We were just one game short."
NOTES: This was Canton's third district title game in four years. In all three years they finished runners up. Loyalsock edged South Williamsport 3-2 to take the District IV Class AA title.
