BASEBALL: Waynesboro shakes off errors to take down Greencastle-Antrim, 6-3
WAYNESBORO >> The best word to describe the first three innings of Greencastle-Antrim and Waynesboro's Mid Penn Colonial Division baseball game was "sloppy."
The teams combined for four errors and four unearned runs through the first three stanzas on Tuesday afternoon.
But the Indians cleaned up their game, snuck through a trio of runs in the fourth inning and went on to claim a 6-3 victory against their biggest rival.
"We really hung in there and battled," Waynesboro coach Greg Chandler said. "The way we've been playing, we've looked good and we've looked bad. We haven't put together a perfect game by any means. It's all been in spurts, but I'm proud of them today."
Greencastle (2-2, 0-1 MPC) settled into the game early. The Blue Devils scored on an error in the second then added a pair of runs in the third to take a 3-0 lead. But defensive woes were especially costly for G-A in the bottom of the third, allowing Waynesboro (3-3, 1-0 MPC) to quickly tie things up.
Sawyer Duffey led off the inning and reached base on an error. He was then moved to second on a sac bunt from Francesco Maya and went to third on a passed ball. Cody Cline was then walked and stole second.
Austin Hanshew came up to the plate with a pair of runners in scoring position. He hit a hard ball to second base, and a throwing error allowed both Duffey and Cline to score. Hanshew then crossed home on a wild pitch to knot the scoreboard.
"It was really frustrating," Blue Devil coach Eric Shaner said. "They made a couple errors early, but I thought they were tremendous defensively later on in the game. The team that was tougher and was able to correct their mistakes won the game. We let one error turn into several, and it felt like we felt sorry for ourselves."
Waynesboro took a lead for good in the third inning. Nick Wade singled, and Maya reached first on a fielder's choice before Cline smashed a triple to deep right-center, driving home a pair of runs. He then added his second run of the game on a wild pitch.
"I really think taking the lead in that game was crucial for us," Chandler said. "They still had Myles (Gayman) on the mound with a 3-3 score, so they were still probably feeling pretty good. But that inning with the at-bats and key hits we had, they were crucial. Then that (wild pitch) deflated them; that was probably the back-breaker."
Waynesboro also got a solid outing from Clayton Wolfe. Although it took 134 pitches, Wolfe picked up the complete-game victory. He scattered six hits and allowed just two earned runs. Despite walking four and hitting a pair of batters, Wolfe still managed to fan eight.
"He was really hitting his spots most of the time," Indian catcher Todd Riddell said. "When he did get rattled, I went out there and just talked to him, tried to calm him down. I think he does great when he's calm and out of his head."
Wolfe got the Indians out of a pair of jams. In both the second and the fifth innings, the Blue Devils had the bases loaded before Wolfe notched a strikeout to end the threats.
Greencastle's Quin Ambeault did seem to have Wolfe figured out. He was 3-for-3 and drew a walk; his courtesy runner, Matt Christman, scored two of G-A's three runs.
"I was just looking for that fastball," Ambeault said. "I think some of us got inside our heads with all of our errors during the game, all those mistakes that led to our loss. I tried my best to just put that out of my head, and I think that was why I was hitting so well."
NOTES >> Austin Branchman also had two hits for Greencastle ... Cline led Waynesboro with a hit, two runs and two RBIs ... Riddell picked off a pair of runners; Chandler said, "That lifts us defensively, anytime you can throw guys out. Early in the season, Chambersburg stole the house on us, so we really needed to plug that hole."
Waynesboro 6, Greencastle 3
GreencastleWaynesboroabrhbabrhbHansen cf3010Duffey lf1100Parker lf3000Maya cf3110Gayman p4000Cline 3b3212Kline ss3100Hanshw 2b3100Ambeault c3030Neterer dh3000Chrstan cr0200Gsell rf0000Measell 2b3001Emmert 1b3010Brchmn 3b3021Riddell c3010Keller rf2000McDnnll cr0000Meyers 1b2000Wade ss2110Wolfe p3000Totals27362Totals24652
Greencastle0120000—3Waynesboro003300x—6
E: GA 3, Way 2; LOB: GA 10, Way 6; 2B: Riddell; 3B: Cline; SAC: Maya; SB: Wade 2, Duffey, Cline; CS: Parker, Meyers.
Greencastle pitching
Gayman (L,0-2)446343Kline210013
Waynesboro pitching
HBP: By Wolfe (Kline, Meyers).
WP: Gayman 2, Wolfe 1; PB: GA 2.
T: 2:26.