Jennings leads Athens to D4 title.
By: Chris Manning | Towanda Daily Review | June 1, 2017 | Photo courtesy Chris Manning
2017 NTL and District 4 News
STATE COLLEGE — Athens put four years of district frustration to Mifflinburg on Wednesday.
Cody Jennings was tough on the mound while the potent Athens line-up put together enough hits to beat Mifflinburg 3-2 to win the District IV, Class AAAA title for the first time in nearly 20 years
"It's a great feeling," Athens coach Brendan Hitchcock remarked. "The guys have worked hard all these four years. We've still got some left out there so we have high hopes for the next game."
Athens has won four straight NTL titles but have come up short at districts, usually in the semi-finals. That was almost the case this year as it took them 10 innings to beat Lewisburg.
"We just set out in day one of pre-season talking about what our goals were," explained Hitchcock. "Working towards a district title and we're here and we're going to keep moving."
The odd innings were kind to Athens as they scored all three of their runs in the first, third and fifth when the heart of their order came to the plate.
Jennings (2-for-2) led the way at the plate for Athens while Matt Collins, Luke Newman, Cory Stivason, Marc Felt and Justin Reagan had the Athens hits.
Jennings went the distance on the mound for the win, striking out six while scattering five hits, one walk and two earned runs.
"It was a gutsy performance," said Hitchcock. "He had his tough and his curveball was really working down the stretch."
He finished under 100 pitches with 92 while hitting one batsman.
"It feels good," Jennings said about getting the district title. "After four years of barely making it we finally did it."
Jennings found himself in trouble early with Mifflinburg getting runners in scoring position in both the first and second but couldn't get any across.
"It was frustrating," Jennings admitted as Mifflinburg didn't hit the ball hard but found space in the Athens defense. "Some of the dinkers and the errors and all, they kind of get in your head but you have to tough through it and keep pitching."
That allowed Athens to strike first in the bottom of the first as Jennings started a 2-out rally with a single to center field.
Newman followed with a hit with Cory Stivason getting hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Joe Horn then got beaned, getting an RBI the painful way, as Ethan Witherow, running for Jennings, jogged home to put Athens up 1-0.
Mifflinburg rallied in the top of the third.
Max Troutman took one for the team to lead off then stole second. After an out Reed Wagner did a surprise bunt for a single to put runners on first and third.
Darin Miller then grounded out to the shortstop but scored Troutman to make it 2-1.
With two outs Josh Foster hit a short fly ball to left field. Horn slipped as he went to catch it, lost it in the sun and it fell allowing Wagner to score to put Mifflinburg up 2-1.
Athens immediately got it back in the bottom half of the inning as Jennings again got on, this time with a walk.
A wild pitch moved Witherow to second followed by a deep Newman fly ball to right field pushed him to third.
Stivason then brought him in on a ground ball to the shortstop. The shortstop took his eyes off it to see if Witherow was going home and booted it, allowing Witherow to score and Stivason to reach, tying the game up at 2-all.
Mifflinburg threatened as Eric Zimmerman reached on a single then made it all the way to third where he was stranded.
In the bottom half of the inning back to back hits by Collins and Jennings put runners on first and second with no outs.
A very deep flyball to left field off the bat of Newman moved Collins to third.
With one out it was Stivason coming up big, getting the single down the left field line to score Collins and put Athens up 3-2.
"I was just looking for my pitch," explained Stivason. "I knew it was a big inning for us and we had to get something across. We got two on and I was going to have to do something."
Mifflinburg pitcher Miller wasn't throwing hard but Athens struggled to break him.
"He did a good job keeping us off balance," said Stivason. "Mixing in curveball. He did a good job with his fastball, placing it."
It's no coincidence that Jennings was the starter and Jennings credits his hitting this year to one thing.
"Get the foot down early," he said. "As my coach would probably say."
Mifflinburg didn't seriously threaten in the sixth but did get their lead off runner to second in the seventh. However, back to back fly ball outs to Horn set it up for Jennings to end it.
He struck out Wagner on three straight pitches to bring home Athens' first title since 1998.
"That felt pretty good," Jennings said about getting the final out himself. "Especially on a curve ball."
Troutman, Zimmerman, Wagner, Foster and Bryce Koonsman had the five Mifflinburg hits.
Miller started and scores the loss, going four innings to strike out one while allowing two walks, five hits and two earned runs.
Anthony Bennage finished out, going two innings.
Going forward Athens will take on the District II champion and Hitchcock expects more from his squad, especially at the plate.
"We put the ball in play and that seemed to put some pressure on them but I would like to see a little more offense," he said. "But it was enough today."
