Athens falls to Dallas.
By: The Review | Towanda Daily Review | June 6, 2017
2017 NTL and District 4 News
HUGHESTOWN — Timely hitting. Do it well and you can win a game with far fewer hits than your opponent. Don't do it well and your season can come to an early end.
The latter was in effect for Athens Monday, as the Wildcats left eight runners on base in a 9-0 loss to Dallas in the first round of the PIAA Class AAAA playoffs.
"Offensively, we haven't been our best selves in the post-season," said Athens coach Brendon Hitchcock. "We've found a way to scratch out enough (to win), but (Monday), we didn't get the timely hit. We had base runners a couple of times and a couple base runners on third, but we just didn't get the big knock when we needed it. That's what the game's about, timely hitting."
Athens got down a run in the first on a walk to JD Barrett, a single by Mike Luksic and a Nick Kocher sacrifice fly.
Athens got busy in the top of the third. Marc Felt, who would end the day 3-for-3 with three singles, singled to right. Justin Reagan, batting ninth, sacrificed him to second. Ryan Kennedy's attempt to bunt his way on ended up with Felt at third, but with two gone. A pop up to first ended the threat.
As would be the case every time Athens showed any sign of life, Dallas scored in the bottom of the inning. Barrett doubled to right and went to third on a soft single into no man's land behind first by Luksic. Kocher hit into a double play, allowing Barrett to make it 2-0.
After a couple of quick half innings, Athens had its second solid chance for a run. Joe Horn lined a one-out single to right and Kaden Rude came on to run. Felt followed with a single to center. Reagan's grounder to third erased Felt at second and sent Horn to third. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the threat ended with a fly ball to right.
Dallas answered the threat with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Darren Kerdesky opened with a single and Barrett drew a walk. Luksic dropped down a sacrifice bunt and that ended the day for Athens starter Matt Collins.
"(Matt) kept them off balance, minimized some damage and kept us in the ball game," said Hitchcock. "That's all you can ask of your starter."
Reliever Horn was greeted by runners at second and third. The Wildcats elected to intentionally walk Kocher to load the bases and set up a force at home. That strategy went for naught, though, when Mike Collins drew a bases-loaded walk and Will McCrum added a sacrifice fly.
Although the task was getting difficult, Athens still had life, down 4-0 in the top of the sixth. The first two batters went down quickly, and then Luke Newman and Cory Stivason singled to right. Dan Joyce added a base hit to left, but Newman had no chance to score in the hit and a strikeout ended the inning.
Then came the bottom of the sixth. Dallas turned a double, a hit batsman, two walks and two singles into a killer five-run inning off two Athens pitchers that effectively ended the Wildcats' season.
"It got interesting late," said Hitchcock. "That half inning was not how you draw it up, but everyone gave it their all and that's all you can ask."
Athens had a runner cross home plate in the seventh, but didn't get to keep it. Felt singled and Regan reached on an error. After a pitching change, Kennedy walked to load the bases. Collins hit into a successful double play with felt scoring. Then the second base umpire called Kennedy for runner's interference. With the double play successful, the only remaining penalty was sending Felt and Reagan back to third and second, respectively. A bouncer back to the pitcher ended the inning and the game.
The Wildcats end the season with an 18-3 mark.
