ATHENS — Athens took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth inning, and put the game away in the sixth in an 8-3 win over North Penn-Mansfield in the regular-season finale here Monday afternoon in NTL Large School baseball action.

The win averages a 6-5 setback at NP-Mansfield for the Wildcats a month ago.

“These games with North Penn-Mansfield this season have been exciting,” said Athens coach Charlie Havens. “They were high-intensity, division-rivalry games — a lot of fun.”

Sophomores Mason Lister and Cameron Sullivan combined to one earned run, despite allowing 13 base-runners in seven innings.

“Mason didn’t have his best stuff, but he really battled and kept us in the game,” said Havens.

“And, Cameron was once again solid in relief. He just seems so relaxed in that situation,” he noted. “No one on or bases loaded he just works quickly and pumps strikes up there.

“He’s been huge for us,” added Havens.

NP-M scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the third inning to take a 2-0 lead, but answered with two runs in the home half of the frame to tie it up.

Kyler Setzer singled to lead off the inning, and took second on a passed ball. With one out he scored on an RBI single by junior Karter Rude, who later scored on a passed ball.

Lister led off the fourth inning with a walk, and ended up scoring on consecutive singles by sophomores Lucas Kraft and Jarren Glisson, and Kaden Setzer. The Wildcats missed out on a golden opportunity to increase its lead by leaving the bases loaded after a pair of infield pop outs, and a come-backer to the mound.

The Tigers tied the game with a run in the top of the fifth inning, but the Wildcats used a two-out rally to take the lead for good.

Junior Caleb Nichols singled and stole second, then scored on a two-out double by Kraft to make it 4-3.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Rude walked, stole second, moved to third on a balk, and then stole home to give the Wildcats a 5-3 lead.

Nichols reached on an error, and Sullivan re-ignited the rally with an RBI triple to extend the lead to 6-3. Sullivan scored on an RBI single by Lister, who later scored on an error to make it 8-3.

Lister pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing two unearned runs on three hits, while striking seven and walking five in a no-decision.

Sullivan earned the win, allowing one run on five hits, while striking out one and walking none in 2 1/3 innings.

Kraft doubled and singled, and drove in one run, and Nichols doubled and singled, scored two runs, and stole two bases to pace Athens at the plate, while Lister singled, scored two runs, and drove in one run, and Rude singled, scored two runs, stole three bases, and drove in one run.

Kaden Setzer singled and knocked in one run, while Sullivan tripled, scored one run and drove in one run, Kyler Setzer singled and scored one run, and Glisson added a single.

Athens wraps up the regular season at 12-8, and now awaits word on the upcoming District 4, Class AAA playoffs.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our guys and how we turned this season around,” said Havens. “Finishing 12-8 is an impressive accomplishment. 

“We definitely like where we are at with a few days to practice and rest our arms headed into the postseason,” Havens added.

ENS — Athens overcame a shaky start, and rallied late for a 4-2 win over Valley rival Waverly here Friday afternoon in a non-league baseball game played “In Memory of Andy Rickert.”

It’s the second win of the season for the Wildcats against the Wolverines. They won 9-3 at Waverly May 1 as part of “The Battle of the Border.”

Junior Thomas Hand led of the game with a single, and advanced to third when freshman Jay Pipher’s fly ball to left field was dropped. With runners on second and third, freshman Joey Tomasso hit an RBI single to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead.

Sophomore Tyler Beeman’s fielder’s choice grounder plater Pipher to make it 2-0.

After an infield error allowed junior Caden Hollywood, Athens sophomore shortstop Mason Lister gobbled up a grounder off the bat of junior Brennan Traub raced to second, and fired to first for a 6-3 double play to end the inning.

Waverly starter junior Derek Seymour pitched around a second-inning walk, and a two-out single in the third inning by Athens junior Karter Rude to keep the Wolverines ahead 2-0.

Athens starter sophomore Lucas Kraft, meanwhile, retired Waverly in order in the second and third innings, although he needed a strong throw from sophomore catcher Caleb Nichols to gun down Pipher attempting to steal second base in the third inning.

Beeman and Hollywood led off the top of the fourth with back-to-back singles, and Traub moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt, but Kraft registered a strikeout, and induced an infield grounder to escape the jam unscathed.

Lister worked a one-out walk off Seymour in the fourth, but Waverly turned a 4-6-3 (Pipher-Tomasso-Hollywood) double play to end the inning.

Kraft breezed through the top of the fifth, but the Wildcats got on the board in the home half of the frame.

With one out, junior Dylan Merritt worked a walk, and moved to second on a bunt. After a walk to sophomore Carson Smith, Rude stroked an RBI single to center field to trim the deficit to 2-1. A wild pitch brought home pinch-runner junior Jared Peterson to tie the game at 2-2.

Kraft again retired the Wolverines in order in the top of the sixth, and the Wildcats once again pushed a pair of runs across the plate in the home half.

Sophomore Cam Sullivan walked to lead off the inning. An errant pick-off attempt allowed pinch-runner junior osiah Stringman to advance to third base. He scored moments later on a passed ball.

With two outs, sophomore Jaren Glisson singled, and Merritt walked. A pair of wild pitches allowed Glisson to score to make it 4-2.

Waverly put the tying runs on base in the top of the seventh inning on one-out singles by junior Kaden Wheeler and senior Nick VanHouten, but Kraft retired the last two batters to preserve the win.

Kraft allowed two runs — both unearned — on six hits, while striking out four and walking one in a complete-game, seven-inning effort.

Rude stroked a pair of singles and drove in one run, and Glisson singled and scored one run to account for Athens’ three hits. Kaden Setzer, Peterson, and Stringham scored runs for the Wildcats.

Beeman singled twice and drove in one run to pace Waverly’s six-hit attack,, while Hand singled and scored one run, Hollywood, Wheeler, and VanHouten each singled, and Pipher scored one run.

Seymour was tagged with the loss, allowing three runs on two hits, while striking out three and walking five in 5 1/3 innings of work. Beeman allowed one run on one hit, with two strikeouts and two walks in 2/3 of an inning.

Athens, now 11-8, hosts North Penn-Mansfield Monday, while Waverly (4-4) hosts Dryden Monday.

——————

NOTE: A 1988 Athens grad, Rickert was a key cog on the 1987 NTL championship team. A junior that season, Rickert batted .393 with 18 RBI and 11 stolen bases.

During his senior season, Rickert hit .524 (33 hits in 63 at-bats) with nine doubles, five triples, three home runs, and 35 RBI. He also stole 11 bases and scored 23 runs.<

ATHENS — Coming into the NTL Coaches’ Invitational, Athens senior Asher Ellis had one goal — sweep the throwing events. He was the top seed for all three, and only had one loss during the season.

“My goal was to win every event this year,” explained Ellis. “And I almost got it, I lost at Troy — one event.”

On Friday, though, there would be no second place for him, as he won the shot put (46-feet, 5 3/4-inches), discus (141-feet, 10-inches), and javelin (166-feet, 1-inch) — all by comfortable margins.

“It was good,” said Ellis. “The last home meet… I had to put everything out there. I’m going to miss it.”

He accounted for half of Athens’ wins on Friday, with the only other individual champion being freshman Ryan Lasusa (53.57) in the 400.

The Wildcat 4x400 relay of junior Kyle Anthony, Lasusa, junior Justin Lynch, and junior Ryan Thompson won in 3:40.37, while the 4x800 relay of Anthony, senior Connor Dahl, junior Matt Gorsline, and Lynch won in 8:46.25.

In the 200, senior Joey Toscano (24.87) was fourth, and Lasusa (25.41) came in eighth. Thompson (55.57) was seventh in the 400.

Three different Wildcats medaled in the 800 with Anthony (2:05.87) third, Lynch (2:09.64) fifth, and sophomore Ethan Denlinger (2:18.16) eighth.

Dahl (4:48.47) was fourth in the 1600, and junior Sander Bertsch (5:15.46) came in sixth.

Gorsline (10:47.74) was second in the 3200, with Dahl (11:10.96) fifth, and Izaac Hobday (12:08.12) sixth.

Levi Kuhns (17.88) was second in the 110 hurdles.

The Athens 4x100 relay of Kuhns, Thompson, Toscano, and sophomore Jaden Wright was fourth in 47.72.

Senior Ian Wright (42-feet, 3 1/2-inches) was fourth in the shot put, and also took third in the discus in 121-feet, 1-inch. Lucas Aquilio (106-feet, 9-inches) was eighth in the discus.

Asher will now get ready for the District IV Championships, where he will likely be either the top seed, or in the top three, for all his events.

“I’m going to go for all three,” he said. “It’s all technique. I just have to hit my steps, everything has got to be smooth.”

The District IV Championships are Thursday and Saturday at Williamsport High School.

ATHENS — Athens sophomore Emma Bronson has been stellar all season  for the Lady Wildcats, and on Friday, at the NTL Coaches’ Invitational, she was dominant, sweeping the distance events.

“It was hard, but it felt good to win all three,” said Bronson.

Bronson won the 800 in 2:32.69, the 1600 in 5:36.52, and the 3200 in 12:35.99 — not an easy feat on a WARM day. She wasn’t fazed, however.

“I kind of stayed with the same strategy going in,” she said. “I knew there were a lot of good runners in each race, so I just wanted to stick with my game plan.”

Her three wins were part of seven for the Athens’ girls team on the day.

Senior Emma Roe (1:02.71) won the 400, junior Hannah Walker (49.76) won the 300 hurdles, freshman Mya Thompson (31-feet, 8-inches) won the triple jump, and the 4x400 relay team of Roe, Thompson, Walker, and senior Leah Liechty won in 4:26.07.

CORNING — Unbeaten Corning scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull out a 3-1 win over Athens here Thursday afternoon in non-league baseball action.

The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Kaden Setzer, but Corning answered with an unearned run in the second to tie the game.

The Wildcats had runners on second and third with one out in the top of the third, but couldn’t push a run across. They didn’t have a runner get past first base over the final four innings.

Corning had runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, but Athens starter sophomore Gage Warner registered a strikeout to end the threat.

Corning’s first two batters in the sixth inning reached base after being hit by pitches. With one out, a wild pitch plated the go-ahead run, then John Green added an insurance run with an RBI single.

Kyler Setzer and Lucas Kraft singled to account for Athens’ two hits, while Mason Lister scored one run, and Kaden Setzer had an RBI.

Warner was tagged with the tough-luck loss for the Wildcats. He allowed three runs — two earned — on seven hits, while striking out six and walking one in six innings of work.

Mason Smith started for the Hawks, allowing an unearned run on one hit, while striking out four and walking one in 4 1/3 innings.

Tom Hacket earned the win, allowing one hit, while striking out three in 2 2/3 innings of relief.

Athens, now 10-8, hosts Waverly Friday.

ATHENS — Athens jumped ahead 7-0 early, but needed four scoreless innings of relief from sophomore Cam Sullivan to hold off Wyalusing in a 9-5 win here Wednesday afternoon in NTL Large School Division baseball action.

Sophomore Mason Lister led off the bottom of the second inning with his first varsity home run to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.

With one out in the second, sophomore Jaren Glisson worked a six-pitch walk, and Kaden Setzer singled. With two outs, Glisson scored on a passed ball, and Setzer scored one an error to make it 3-0. After a walk to junior Karter Rude, sophomore Cade Nichols stroked a two-run single to give the Wildcats a 5-0 lead.

In the third inning, Kyler Setzer ripped a two-RBI single to extend the Athens lead to 7-0.

The Rams plated five runs in the fourth inning to trim the deficit to 7-5, but Athens answered with two runs in the fifth inning to provide the final margin. Kaden Setzer and Carson Smith provided the RBI hits.

Lister started for the Wildcats, allowing five runs — four earned Ø on four hits in three innings. He struck out three and walked three.

Sullivan earned the win, allowing two hits over four innings, with seven strikeouts and two walks.

Kyler Setzer singled twice, scored one run, and drove in two runs, while Kaden Setzer singled twice, scored two runs, and knocked in one run, and Lister homered and singled, scored once, and drove in one run to pace Athens’ 10-hit attack.

Nichols singled and drove in two runs in the win, while Glisson singled and scored three runs, Smith singled and knocked in a run, Sullivan added a single, and sophomore Gage Warner and Rude each scored a run.

Athens, now 10-7, travels to Corning Thursday.

ATHENS — Danella Cornell’s two-run home run in the third inning was all the run support Hailey Jayne would need, but Wyalusing would tack on a couple of insurance runs in a 4-0 win over Athens here Wednesday afternoon in NTL Large School Division softball action.

Jayne was in control throughout, tossing a 3-hitter, while striking out 12 and walking none to earn the win. The Wyalusing defense committed just one error behind her.

Athens starter sophomore Aliyah Butler retired the first six batters she faced, but London Edwards reached base to lead off the third inning after her fly ball was dropped in the outfield.

Two pitches later, Cornell blasted a shot over the fence in left-center field to give the Lady Rams a 2-0 lead.

Wyalusing tacked on an unearned run in the fifth inning. Imogen Herbert reached base on a two-out error, then Jayne and Sydney Friedlander stroked consecutive singles to make it 3-0.

The Lady Wildcats had their best scoring opportunity of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning when senior Mallory Mummert led off with a double.

Moments later, sophomore Addy Repsher ripped a line drive up the middle, but Jayne snared it. An alert Mummert was able to get safely back to second base, but Jayne retired the next two batters to preserve the 3-0 lead.

The Lady Rams tacked on a run in the sixth inning on an RBI single by Edwards.

Mummert doubled, and senior Harley Sullivan, and junior Caydence Macik each singled to account for Athens’ three hits.

Butler was tagged with the loss. She allowed four runs — two earned — on six hits, while striking out four and walking none in 5 2/3 innings of work. Macik pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, with one walk.

Athens, now 14-4, hosts North Penn-Liberty Monday.

ATHENS — Senior Asher Ellis, junior Kyle Anthony, and sophomore Jaden Wright were triple-winners to lead Athens to a regular-season championship-clinching, 80-69, win over Williamson in NTL boys track & field action at Alumni Stadium.

Junior Justin Lynch and freshman Ryan LaSusa were double-winners for the Wildcats, who finish the season at 9-0. Williamson falls to 8-1.

Ellis led a sweep in the shot put with a heave of 45-feet, 1/4-inch, while senior Ian Wright was second at 38-feet, 11 3/4-inches, and senior Lucas Aquilio was third at 35-feet, 11 1/2-inches.

Ellis led a sweep in the discus with a toss of 125 feet, 7-inches, while Aquilio was second at 115-feet, 1-inch, and Ian Wright was third at 106-feet, 6-inches.

Ellis won the javelin with a throw of 149-feet, 1-inch, and senior Zach Stafursky was second at 122-feet, 7-inches.

Jaden Wright won the 100-meter dash in 12.14 seconds. Wright also won the 200-meter dash in 24.33 seconds, and senior Joe Toscano was third in 25.19 seconds.

Wright teamed with junior Levi Kuhn, Toscano, and junior Ryan Thompson to win the 400-meter relay in a time of 47.59 seconds.

Anthony teamed with Justin Lynch, junior Matt Gorsline, and senior Connor Dahl to win the 3,200-meter relay in a time of 10:26.0.

Lynch, Thompson, Anthony, and LaSusa teamed to win the 1,600-meter relay in a tie of 3:43.67.

Anthony won the 800-meter run in a time of 2:06.86, and Lynch was third in 2:12.44.

LaSusa won the 400-meter dash in a time of 55.25 seconds, and Anthony was third in 55.69 seconds.

Kuhns finished second in the 110-meter hurdles in 19.29 seconds.

Gorsline finished second in the 3,200-meter run in a time of 10:36.31, and Dahl was third in 10:59.79.

Sophomore Ethan Denlinger finished second in the high jump at 5-feet. He also finished second in the pole vault at 8-feet, 6-inches.

Dahl finished third in the 1,600-meter run in a time of 4:50.15.

Connor Brown finished third in the long jump with a leap of 17-feet, 1/2-inch. He also finished third in the triple jump at 34-feet, 6-inches.

Athens hosts the NTL Championships Friday at 1:30 p.m.

ATHENS — Already the NTL regular-season champion, Athens finished off the 2021 campaign at unbeaten 8-0-1 with an 81-69 win over Williamson in girls track & field action at Alumni Stadium.

Sophomore Emma Bronson and senior Emma Roe were triple-winners for the Lady Wildcats, while juniors Hannah Walker and Olivia Bartlow, and freshman Mya Thompson were double-winners.

Bronson won the 1,600-meter run in 6:02.26, and Abby Prickitt was third in 7:35.52. She also won the 3,200-meter run in 13:27.66.

Bronson won the 800-meter run in 2:44.38, and Cailyn Conklin was third in 3:02.75.

Roe won the 400-meter dash in 1:03.78, and Thompson was third in 1:05.98.

Roe also won the 200-meter dash in 28.234 seconds, edging Williamson’s Scout Abel by 0.004 seconds. Roe finished second in the 100-meter dash in 13.84 seconds.

Roe teamed with Walker, Thompson, and senior Leah Liechty to win the 1,600-meter relay in a time of 4:37.25.

Walker won the 300-meter hurdles in 51.32 seconds.

Bartlow won the shot put with a heave of 26-feet, 6-inches, and freshman Emma Pernaselli was third in 22-feet, 6-inches.

Bartlow also won the discus with a toss of 85-feet, 2-inches, and Pernaselli was second at 82-feet, 2-inches. Pernaselli also finished second in the javelin with a throw of 86-feet, 10-inches.

Thompson led a sweep in the triple jump with an effort of 31-feet, 10 1/2-inches, while Bronson was second at 28-feet, 9-inches, and sophomore Cassy Friend was third at 22-feet, 11 1/4-inches. Thompson was second in the long jump with a leap of 15-feet, 4 3/4-inches.

Freshman Emily Henderson finished second in the 100-meter hurdles in 18.25 seconds

Liechty finished second in the high jump at 4-feet, 4-inches. Liechty also finished second in the pole vault at 6-feet, and sophomore Shelby Morris was third at 5-feet, 6-inches.

Athens hosts the NTL Championships Friday at 1:30 p.m.

TROY — The Lady Wildcats won the meet-closing 400-meter relay to pull out a 76-74 win over Troy, while the unbeaten Athens boys cruised to a 107-42 victory here on a rainy Friday afternoon of NTL track & field action.

GIRLS
Athens 76, Troy 74
Senior Emma Roe, sophomore Emma Bronson, and freshman Mya Thompson were triple-winners to lead the Lady Wildcats, now 7-0-1, to the narrow win over the Lady Trojans (6-2).

Roe, who ran the anchor, and Thompson, who ran the opening leg, teamed with senior Leah Liechty, and junior Hannah Walker to win the 4-x-4 in a time of 4:31.6.

Roe won the 200-meter dash in a time of 27.86 seconds, and Walker was third in 28.84 seconds. Roe also won the 400-meter dash in 1:05.47, and Thompson was second in 1:06.44.

Roe finished second in the 100-meter dash in 13.63 seconds, and Walker was third at 13.81 seconds

Athens held an 18-9 points advantage in the sprints.

Bronson was a big contributor in the win with a sweep of the distances races.

Bronson won the 1,600-meter run in a time of 5:58.5, and won the 3,200-meter run in 13:05.02. She also won the 800-meter run in 2:38.52.

Thompson won the long jump with a leap of 15-feet, 9-inches. She also won the triple jump with an effort of 31-feet, 9 1/4-inches, and Bronson was second at 29-feet, 1-inch.

Walker won the 300-meter hurdles in a time of 53.58 seconds.

Freshman Emma Pernaselli won the discus with a toss of 83-feet, 11-inches, and sophomore Meltem VanHelden was third at 63-feet, 1-inch.

Pernaselli also won the javelin with a throw of 70-feet, 4-inches. She was third in the shot put with a heave of 25-feet, 2-inches.

Freshman Emily Henderson was second in the 100-meter hurdles in a time of 19.09 seconds

Liechty was second in the high jump at 4-feet, 6-inches, and sophomore Shelby Morris was third at 3-feet, 6-inches.

Junior Emily King finished third in the pole vault at 5-feet, 6-inches

BOYS
Athens 107, Troy 42
The Wildcats won 14 of 18 events, including seven sweeps, to post a convincing 107-42 win over the Trojans.

Junior Kyle Anthony was a triple-winner, and seven of his teammates — senior Asher Ellis, juniors Levi Kuhns, Justin Lynch, Matt Gorsline, and Ryan Thompson, sophomore Jaden Wright, and freshman Ryan LaSusa, were double-winners for Athens, which is now 8-0.

Anthony led a sweep in the 800-meter run in a time of 2:10.46, while jLynch was second in 2:19.59, and sophomore Ethan Denlinger was third in 2:20.22.

Anthony teamed with Lynch, junior Matt Gorsline and senior Connor Dahl to win the 3,200-meter relay in a time of 9:27.0.

Anthony and Lynch teamed with junior Ryan Thompson, and LaSusa teamed to win the 1,600-meter relay in a time of 3:44.9.

Gorsline led a sweep in the 3,200-meter run in a time of 10:42.0, while Dahl was second in 10:46.0, and junior Izaak Hobday was third at 12:16.0.

Levi Kuhns won the 110-meter hurdles in 19.69 seconds, and senior Carter Jones was third in 20.45 seconds. Kuhns finished second in the 300-meter hurdles in a time of 48.44 seconds.

Kuhns teamed with senior Joe Toscano, junior Ryan Thompson, and sophomore Jaden Wright to win the 400-meter relay in a time of 47.56 seconds.

Jaden Wright led a sweep in the 200-meter dash, clocking in at 25.16 seconds, while freshman Ryan LaSusa was second in 25.33 seconds, and Toscano was third at 25.92 seconds. Wright was second in the 100-meter dash in 12.11 seconds.

LaSusa led a sweep in the 400-meter dash in 55.62 seconds, while Lynch was second in 59.65 seconds, and freshman Korey Miller was third in 1:01.17.

Ellis led a sweep in the shot put with a heave of 47-feet, 4-inches, while senior Ian Wright was second at 36-feet, 3 1/2-inches, and senior Lucas Aquilio was third at 33-feet, 6-inches.

Ellis also led a sweep in the javelin with a throw of 125-feet, 6-inches, while senior Ben Pernaselli was second at 94-feet, 2-inches, and Ian Wright was third at 90-feet, 9-inches.

Ian Wright won the discus with a toss of 107-feet, 3-inches, and Aquilio was second at 102-feet, 4-inches.

Hobday won the 1,600-meter run in a time of 6:30.27, with Gorsline second in 6:30.52, and junior Sander Bertsch third in 6:30.57.

Denlinger won the high jump at 5-feet. He was second in the pole vault at 8-feet, 6-inches.

ATHENS — It wasn’t a perfect day for Mason Lister, but when the Wildcats needed him most, the sophomore came up big — on the mound and at the plate — to lead Athens to a, 3-2, come-from-behind win over Wellsboro here Thursday afternoon in NTL Large School Division baseball action.

The win avenges a 10-run early-season loss at Wellsboro.

“They beat us 11-1 the first time we played them, that’s one heck of a bounce-back win,” said Athens coach Charlie Havens.

“The kids were really excited about this win,” Havens added. “It’s a good win for us.”

The Wildcats took a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

Junior Karter Rude led off the inning with a line-drive single to centerfield, and scored on a  one-out RBI double by sophomore Cameron Sullivan.

After the first inning, Athens had just two hits off Wellsboro starter Brock Hamblin until the sixth inning.

Meanwhile, Wellsboro had plenty of runners reach base, but only managed two runs off Lister.

Isaac Keane and Kaiden Mann reached base on errors to lead off the top of the second inning, and Hamblin flared a single to right field to load the bases.

After Lister hit Dylan Abernathy with a pitch to force home a run, he induced a pop fly on the infield, and registered two strikeout to escape further damage.

Darryn Callahan homered to dead center field to lead off the third to put Wellsboro up 2-1.

The Green Hornets maintained the lead until the bottom of the sixth inning.

“(Hamblin) kept us off balance. We were out in front quite a bit,” said Havens.“He had a really nice curve ball that kept buckling us.

“He had us guessing, so we really didn’t have a lot of good at-bats.

“They also ran down a lot of balls tonight,” noted Havens. “Their center fielder killed us in the first game, too.

Rude led off the sixth with a  double, and scored moments later on an RBI double by sophomore Caleb Nichols to tie the game at 2-2.

With one out, Lister, who had struck out in his first two at-bats, ripped an RBI double off the fence in left field to give the Wildcats a 3-2 lead.

“In the sixth, (Rude and Nichols) hit back-to-back doubles to tie the game, then Lister hit a bomb — I don’t know how it didn’t get out,” said Havens.

“(Lister) had a rough night at the plate, but he came through in the sixth inning,” added Havens.

Hamblin led off the top of the seventh with a single, but was wiped off the bases on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Connor Adams. After a walk to Callahan, the runners advanced to third on a groundout off the bat of Cameron Brought.

With Lister at the pitch-count limit, Sullivan relieved and induced a fly ball to left field on his second pitch to end the game and record the save.

“(Lister) pitched out of a few jams … when he had to be tough tonight, he was,” said Havens. “He did a great job.

“And, our defense played well behind him,” added Haven. “Our defense is really coming around. We’re really improving there.”

Wellsboro left eight runners on base, including five in scoring position.

Sullivan doubled and singled, and drove in one run, and Rude singled twice and scored two runs to lead Athens at the plate, while Nichols singled, scored one run, and drove in one run, Loister doubled and knocked in one run, and Kaden Setzer added a double.

Lister allowed two runs — one earned — on four hits, while striking out five and walking three to earn the win.

Athens, now 9-7, are scheduled to host Wyalusing Friday.

ATHENS — Junior Caydence Macik slugged a grand slam and collected seven RBI to lead Athens to a, 13-3, five-inning win over Wellsboro here Thursday afternoon, avenging an early-season NTL Large School softball loss.

Athens coach Mickey Farrell believes there were several factors in play for the Lady Wildcats, who dropped a 5-4 decision at Wellsboro on April 13 for their first loss of the season.

“I think the fact our kids understand more of how important these games are now. They’ve been working their tails off,” he said.

“The difference tonight was we were very aggressive at the plate. (Kerrah) Clymer pitched very well against us over there,” noted Farrell. “I think what helped us tonight was facing (Waverly’s Hali) Jenner, (Tioga’s Kindra) Wessels, and (Towanda’s Maddie) Maynard in the last three games. We’ve seen some really good pitching, and we’ve hammered all of it.

“The confidence level of these girls right now is huge,” added Farrell. “I think that made a big difference, too.”

Wellsboro took a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning, but the Lady Wildcats answered in the third inning.

Senior Mallory Mummert led off the third with a single, and ended up on third base after a two-out single by senior Audrey Hatch, and a walk to senior Harley Sullivan to load the bases.

Macik then knocked a 2-1 over the fence to give the Lady Wildcats the lead for good.

“Macik ignited everything for us,” said Farrell. “We loaded the bases, and she popped one out to put us up 4-2, and we steamrolled them from there.”

Athens added five more runs in the fourth inning in a rally that featured an RBI single by Mummert, and a two-run double by Macik to cap the scoring.

After Wellsboro plated a run in the top of the fifth, Athens scored four times in the home half of the stanza to invoke the 10-run “mercy” rule. The fourth run was scored on a bases-loaded walk to Macik.

Sophomore Aliyah Butler earned the win for the Lady Wildcats. She allowed three runs on five hits, while striking out one and walking four in a complete-game, five-inning effort.

Farrell said Athens played well in every facet of the game.

“Butler did a nice job, she pitched pretty well,” he said. “She wasn’t at her best, but she went all five innings for us.

“And, our defense played well behind her,” Farrell added.

Farrell pointed out a pair of defensive plays in the outfield — by Alli Thoman and Macie Coyle.

“We had two outstanding catches by our left fielders,” said Farrell.

“Alli Thoman jumped as high as I’ve her seen her jump, and snagged one out of the air,” he noted. “It was going for a double, maybe a triple, if she doesn’t catch it.”

“A ball was hit over (Macie Coyle’s) head … she took off and made an over-the-shoulder catch,” added Farrell. “She had her glove hand stretched out as far as it would go. That was an ESPN-highlight catch right there, it was a great catch.”

Mummert was 3-for-3 with three runs scored, and one RBI, and Macik homered — her fourth in the last three games — and doubled, scored one run, and drove in seven to lead Athens at the plate, while sophomore Addy Repsher singled twice and scored one run, and Coyle singled twice and scored two runs.

Hatch singled and scored two runs in the win, while Butler added a single, Sullivan scored two runs and drove in one run, and freshman Ashlyn VanFleet and Mackenzie Morgan each scored one run.

With the win, Athens improves to 14-3 on the season, and takes a 2-game lead over Wellsboro in he Large School standings. Wyalusing has been limited to just one divisional game.

“It’s a big win for us in the division,” said Farrell. “Wyalusing hasn’t played much at all — they have a lot of games to make up, but we have a two-game cushion over Wellsboro.

“These kids deserve this,” noted Farrell. “They know a lot of people didn’t have high expectations for them … they’ve worked really hard because they want to win badly.

“They’re having a lot of fun,” he added. “They practice hard, and they play hard; that’s all I can ask.”

Athens is scheduled to host Wyalusing Friday afternoon.

ATHENS — Sophomore Jaden Wright and senior Emma Roe each won four events to lead the unbeaten Athens boys and girls, respectively, to lopsided wins over North Penn-Mansfield in NTL track & field action here Tuesday afternoon at Alumni Stadium.

The boys, now 7-0, registered a 112-33 win, while the Lady Wildcats won 108-39.

BOYS
Athens 112, North Penn-Mansfield 33
Wright was joined in the winner’s circle by senior Asher Ellis and junior Levi Kuhns, who were triple-winners, and junior Kyle Anthony, sophomore Ethan Denlinger, and freshman Ryan Lasusa, who were double-winners.

Wright led a sweep in the 100-meter dash in 11.56 seconds, with senior John Ayers second at 11.78 seconds, and senior Joe Toscano third at 11.87 seconds.

Wright also won the 200-meter dash in 24.37 seconds, and Toscano was second in 25.19 seconds.

Wright won the long jump with a leap of 18-feet, 4 1/2-inches, and Kuhns was third at 16-feet, 11-inches.

Wright, Kuhns, Toscano, and junior Ryan Thompson teamed to win the 400-meter relay in a time of 47.57 seconds.

Kuhns won the 110-meter hurdles in 18.43 seconds, and senior Carter Jones was second in 20.06 seconds.

Kuhns led a sweep in the 300-meter hurdles in a time of 48.62 seconds, with junior Brendan Jones second in 52.78 seconds, and Carter Jones third in 54.66 seconds.

Ellis won the discus with a toss of 142-feet, 8-inches, and senior Ian Wright was second at 114-feet, 10-inches. Ellis also won the javelin with a throw of 151-feet, 5-inches.

Ellis led a sweep in the shot put with a heave of 45-feet, 6 1/2-inches, while Wright was second at 37-feet, 9-inches, and senior Lucas Aquilio was third at 36-feet, 8 1/4-inches.

Lasusa led a sweep in the 400-meter dash in 54.19 seconds, while junior Justin Lynch was second in 57.54 seconds, and Ayers was third in 58.34 seconds.

Lasusa teamed with Lynch, Ayers, and Anthony to win the 1,600-meter relay in a time of 3:49.58.

Anthony led a sweep in the 800-meter run in 2:10.16, while Justin Lynch was second in 2:23.83, and sophomore Nate Prickitt was third in 2:29.25.

Denlinger won the pole vault, clearing the bar at 7-feet. He was second in the high jump at 5-feet.

Brendan Jones, Prickitt, junior Sander Bertsch, and Denlinger teamed to win the 3,200-meter relay in a time of 11:02.1.

Anthony was second in the 1,600-meter run in 4:48.89, and senior Connor Dahl was third in 5:04.55.

Junior Matt Gorsline was second in the 3,200-meter run in a time of 10:40.86, and Dahl was third in 11:06.07.

Brendan Jones was third in the triple jump at 32-feet, 8 1/2-inches.

GIRLS
Athens 108, North Penn-Mansfield 39
Roe was joined as a multiple-winner by senior Leah Liechty, sophomore Emma Bronson, and freshmen Emily Henderson and Mya Thomson, who were triple-winners, and junior Hannah Walker, who was a double-winner.

The Lady Wildcats won 16 of 18 events to improve to 6-0-1 on the season.
 
Roe won the 100-meter dash in 13.11 seconds, edging Walker, who was second in 13.12 seconds.

Roe led a sweep in the 200-meter dash in 28.32 seconds, while Walker was second in 28.77 seconds, and sophomore Cassy Friend was third in 28.96 seconds.

Roe also won the 400-meter dash in 1:07.31, and Thompson was second in 1:07.93

Bronson won the 1,600-meter run in a time  of 5:58.98. She also won the 3,200-meter run in 13:21.81.

Bronson won the 800-meter run in a time of 2:40.6.

Henderson won the 100-meter hurdles in a time of 18.3 seconds, and sophomore Shelby Morris was third in 21.64 seconds.

Walker won the 300-meter hurdles in a time of 51.34 seconds, and Henderson was second in 1:09.47

Henderson and Walker teamed with Thompson and Friend to win the 400-meter relay in a time of 55.62 seconds.

Henderson and Roe teamed with freshman Abbie Panek and Liechty to win the 1,600-meter relay in a time of 4:53.71.

Liechty won the high jump, clearing the bar at 4-feet, 6-inches, and Morris was third at 3-feet, 10-inches.

Liechty and junior Emily King led a sweep in the pole vault, tying for first at 5-feet, 6-inches. Morris was third at 5-feet.

Thompson led a sweep in the long jump with a leap of 15-feet, 4-inches, while Friend was second at 14-feet, 3/4-inches, and Panek was third at 13-feet, 3 3/4-inches.

Thompson won the triple jump with a hop, skip, and jump of 31-feet, 7-inches.

Emma Pernaselli won the discus with a toss of 77-feet, 10-inches, and sophomore Meltem VanHelden was third. She also won the shot put with a heave of 28-feet, 11 1/4-inches.

Pernaselli was second in the javelin with a throw of 76-feet, 6-inches, and Rachel Jelliff was third at 55-feet, 10-inches.

Athens returns to action Friday at Troy.

TIOGA CENTER — Eighth-grader Conlan Taylor pitched a complete game in his first varsity start, leading Tioga to a 5-4 win over Athens here Saturday afternoon in the nightcap of the “Battle at the Border” baseball showcase.

Taylor allowed four runs — three earned — on six hits, while striking out three and walking just one. He threw 86 pitches.

“He was outstanding,” said Tioga coach Kevin Evanek. “We knew he was that good. He works hard at it … he’s here every morning hitting off a tee. He does a lot of work in the offseason … he puts the time in, and it shows.

“And, he swings the bat as well as anyone. He’s going to be a great player, we’re fortunate to have him.”

“I’m looking forward to coaching him for five years,” added Evanek.

Athens coach Charlie Havens was impressed as well.

“He kept the ball on our hands, he kept us off balance, and he worked quick.

“He had a really good approach to the game,” added Havens. “He’s going to be fun to watch the next few years.”

After Taylor worked around a two-out single by Athens sophomore Cam Sullivan in the top of the first inning, the Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the home half of the first.

With one out, junior Cobe Whitmore walked, stole second and moved to third base on a single by Taylor. Whitmore scored on an errant pickoff throw to first.

Senior Derrick Gage followed with a singled to put runners on first and third, but the Wildcats turned a 4-6-3 (Sullivan to junior Karter Rude to sophomore Mason Lister) to avoid further damage.

Taylor worked around an error in the top of the second, then the Tigers extended the lead in the bottom of the frame.

With two outs, senior Cole Williams singled up middle. After Williams moved to second on a wild pitch, and third base on a passed ball, junior Gavin Godfrey worked a seven-pitch walk.

Bailey then ripped a two-run double down the right-field line to make it 3-0.

Athens got on the board in the top of the third inning on a two-out RBI single by Sullivan.

The Wildcats tied the game in the top of the fifth inning on another two-out hit.

Dylan Merritt led off the stanza with a single, but was immediately replaced on the base paths by Kyler Setzer via a fielder’s choice groundout. Rude then belted a double to right field to put runners on second and third.

With two outs, Sullivan lined a two-RBI single to left field to make it 3-3.

Tioga answered quickly, however, with two runs in the home half of the inning.

Bailey reached on an infield single that was lost in the sun by an Athens infielder, and scored when Whitmore belted the first pitch he saw to deep left field for an RBI double.

With two outs, freshman Ethan Perry ripped an RBI double to center field to make it 5-3.

With two outs in the top of the sixth, Kaden Setzer and Merritt reached on back-to-back errors that put runners on first and third. Kyler Setzer then ripped a single up the middle that ricocheted off Taylor, allowing Kaden Setzer to score, and leaving runners on first and third.

After Kyler Setzer stole second, Rude hit a grounder up the middle that Perry, at shortstop, fielded and fired to first base. Williams picked a low throw out of the dirt for the out on a bang-bang play.

“We thought we should have had a tie ball game, but we didn’t get the ball,” said Havens.

Taylor retired the Wildcats in order in the seventh to preserve the win.

Despite the loss, Havens is pleased with the way his team is playing.

“There’s nothing to be upset about with the way we played. It was a one-run ball game.

“We had some good hitting, and our defense is really coming around,” said Havens. “I’m pretty happy with how we’re playing right now. We had a 4-1 week.”

Evanek was pleased with with the win, but knows his team needs to improve.

“The bottom of our line-up struggled, but our top five hitters looked good.

“We were swinging late, and it really goes back to not seeing a fastball for two years,” said Evanek. “Our timing got better as the day went on, and I think it will continue to get better.”

Bailey doubled and singled, scored one run, and drove in two runs, and Taylor singled twice to lead Tioga’s nine-hit attack, while Whitmore doubled, scored two runs, and knocked in one run, and Perry doubled and drove in one run.

Williams singled and scored a run in the win, while Josh Reis and Gage each added a single, and Godfrey scored one run.

Sullivan stroked three singled and drove in three runs to lead Athens’ six-hit attack, while Rude doubled and scored two runs, Kyler Setzer singled, scored one run, and drove in one run, and Merritt added a single. Kaden Setzer scored a run.

Sullivan was tagged with the loss, allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out three and walking one. Sullivan pitched two perfect innings of relief in the first game of the “Battle of the Border” earlier Saturday.

“Sullivan is eating a lot of innings for us, and saving our big arms for the games we need them in,” said Havens. “He’s really done a good job.”

Athens, now 8-7, hosts Wellsboro Wednesday, while Tioga, 1-1, travels to Newark Valley Monday.

WAVERLY — Athens took advantage of fourth-inning opportunities to rally past Tioga, 10-5, here Saturday and finish the "Battle at the Border" with a 2-0 record.

Trailing, 3-2, the Wildcats parlayed back-to-back singles, two hit batters, a walk, an error and a trio of run-scoring fielder's choices into a half dozen runs to take control of the game in the top of the fourth inning.

"We've been doing that," Athens coach Mickey Farrell said of the come-from-behind victory. "We've fallen behind, but we have a lot of bats, and we score a lot of runs. The key is putting the ball in play and that's what we do best."

"We had an inning with some mental errors," Tioga coach Heather Klossner said. "I've got a lot of girls in new positions, so first time out in new positions, just some different positioning type things, and unearned runs. Errors kill you."

MacKenzie Morgan started the rally off with a single out of the 9-slot and lead-off hitter Audry Hatch followed with a base hit. After Harley Sullivan was hit by a pitch, Caydence Macik worked a walk to tie the game at three. Aliyah Butler and Addy Repsher hit into fielder's choices, each scoring a run.

With one away, Ashlyn VanFleet took one for the team to give Athens a 6-3 lead. A fielder's choice off the batt of Mallory Mummert and and an error on Morgan's second at-bat of the inning pushed the advantage to 8-3.

The Tigers kept plugging away, however, and picked up a pair of runs back in their half of the fourth. Abby Foley legged out an infield single, Olivia Ayres moved her over with a ground ball to third and Austyn Vance brought her home with a single up the middle.

Vance moved to second on the throw home trying to get Foley and Kindra Wessels smacked a double over the left fielder's head to plate Vance and close the gap to 8-5.

The Wildcats added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh on a Macik hone run. Sullivan hit the left field line, narrowly avoiding a potential shoestring catch by the outfielder, then kicked the ball out of a Tioga player's glove as she slid into second. Macik followed by hitting an 0-1 pitch out of the park.

Sullivan put Athens on the board first, walking and scoring on Aliyah Butler's single up the middle. With runners at first and second, Wessels got out of trouble by striking out the next batter.

Tioga struck quickly in its half of the inning as Ayres led off with a walk and Vance doubled to left center to tie the score. A Wessels bloop hit over the shortstop gave Tioga a 2-1 lead. She bolted toward second on the throw in from the outfield and was safe on a play at second while Vance raced home to give the Tigers a 2-1 edge.

Repsher walked MJ Thetga, Molly Bombard and Julia Bellis in succession with the base on balls to Bellis scoring Wessels for a 3-1 lead.

The Wildcats pulled within a run in the second when Mallory Mummert capitalized on two errors and two stolen bases to trim the lead to 3-2.

Macik, who contributed the homer and two runs to the offensive effort, played a key role in the circle and recorded seven strikeouts, fanning four Tigers in a row to end the game. Tioga managed to put just one runner in scoring position during that stint.

"We've done that all year long," Farrell said. "Caydence is our closer. This I think is her fourth save this year. She comes in and she nails it down for us. She's done a really good job of that.

"I use all three of them. I don't have one pitcher. I use all three (Repsher, Macik and Aliyah Butler)."

Repsher picked up the win, overcoming seven hits and five walks in the process.

Wessels went the distance for Tioga, scattering 11 hits while striking out five.

The Tiger hurler also contributed a pair of hits, as did Ayers and Vance. Thetga and Abby Foley had Tioga's other hits.

Eight Wildcats hit safely at least once while Sullivan, Macik and Morgan collected two hits apiece.

Macik's long home run and Morgan's hitting didn't go unnoticed by Farrell.

"MacKenzie Morgan, that was her first actual start at hitting," he said. "I usually let her just play the field and I believe she had two hits. The one started off a rally where we scored all those runs, so it was good to see her do that.

"Like I told the girls, it was a total team victory. This whole weekend, beating Towanda Friday night, then beating Waverly and this game. I said our total team won all three of these games."

The Tigers fell to rival Waverly earlier in the day, 7-5, while Athens downed the Wolverines, 14-3.

"Kind of what I expected," said Klossner. "I expected to see some rust, some mental errors, but I think we did some good things. Overall, I think we played two good teams pretty solid. Obviously, not the outcome we would have liked to see, but not a bad weekend to start and playing two good teams to start makes the rest of the season seem a little better. I think we did some good stuff."

On Wednesday, Athens (13-3) hosts Wellsboro, and Tioga (0-2) hosts Spencer-Van Etten.