Bad inning dooms Towanda against Hughesville.
By: The Review | Towanda Daily Review | May 24, 2014 | Photo courtesy The Review
2014 NTL and District 4 News
HUGHESVILLE - A 5-run fifth inning by Hughesville was the difference in their 8-2 win over Towanda in Distric IV, Class AA baseball quarterfinal action Friday.
"We kind of played well into the fifth inning then in the fifth inning things kind of fell apart for us," explained Towanda coach Bill Sexton. "They got a couple hits and a couple stolen bases and we just couldn't stop what they were doing in the fifth. It took a very competitive game and made it comfortable for them."
The Spartans led 1-0 after the first inning but Towanda took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third.
Ethan Barto led off with a single, After a strikeout Noah Huff singled to put two runners on.
An error off the bat of Jared Lines brought in Barto followed by Huff scoring off a sacrifice fly from Sawyer Strope.
The Knights held the lead until the bottom of the fourth when Hughesville knotted it up at 2-2.
Then in the fifth is when they scored five runs to take a 7-2 lead. The Spartans added another run in the sixth to make it an 8-2 final.
Huff went 1-for-2 with a stolen base while Strope was 1-for-2 as well. Barto had the other hit.
Tristan James started and went 4 1/3-innings. He struck out three while allowing one walk, five hits and five runs, four of which were earned.
James finishes the season 4-4.
Dylan Bates finished out the game, pitching 1 2/3-innings. He struck out two with three walks, three hits and three runs, two of which were earned.
Tyler Mitcheltree led Hughesville, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs while Brady Kimble went 2-for-3 wiht a run scored. Brett Reitz added 2-RBI while Sean Poust was 2-for-3 with two runs.
Justin Lambert earned the win for the Spartans.
Hughesville will now face Loyalsock, 3-1 winners over Montoursville, next Tuesday, 7 p.m. at Bowman Field.
"It's a tough way for a season to come to an end," remarked Sexton. "The kids worked hard but didn't get to where they needed to be at this point in the season."
He also felt it was especially tough for his seniors.
"I thought all our seniors had solid years for us," Sexton said. "It's tough to see them go out like this."
