ATHENS — Athens scored 10 runs in the home half of the sixth inning to pull out an 18-9 win over Troy here Thursday afternoon in NTL Large School Division softball action.

The Lady Wildcats battled back from a four-run deficit to improve to 6-0 on the season. Just nine days ago, Athens blanked Troy, 13-0.

Senior Harley Sullivan walked to lead off the bottom of the first inning, and eventually scored on a passed ball to give Athens a 1-0 lead.

Junior Caydence Macik and sophomore Aliyah Butler stroked RBI singles to make it 3-0.

Troy tied the game in the top of third on RBO doubles by Olivia Tate and Tyra Williams, and an RBI single by A Wilcox.

Tate and Williams did more damage for the Lady Trojans in the fourth inning, with Tate belting a two-run double, and Williams stroking a two-run single to give them a 7-3 lead.

The Lady Wildcats answered with four runs in the home half of the fourth inning. Sullivan slammed a two-out, three-run home run to make it 7-6, and after senior Audrey Hatch reached on an error, Macik ripped an RBI double to left field to tie the game.

Sullivan worked a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning to force home Butler, who led off the inning with a single, putting the Lady Wildcats up 8-7.

Troy answered with two runs in the top of the sixth — on a two-out single by Lindsay Steele, and a two-run blast by Williams — to take a 9-8 lead.

In the home half of the sixth, the wheels fell off the wagon for the Lady Trojans, who committed seven errors in Athens’ 10-run onslaught.

Senior Mallory Mummert and junior Macie Coyle each delivered RBI singles in the rally, and Sullivan belted an RBI double.

Sullivan homered and doubled, scored three runs, and had six RBI to lead Athens at the plate, while Macik doubled and singled, scored three runs, stole two bases, and drove in two run, Mummert singled twice, scored two runs, and drove in three runs, and Butler singled twice, scored two runs, and knocked in two runs.

Senior Megan Collins singled, scored one run, and drove in one run in the win, while Coyle singled, scored one run, and drove in one run, Hatch scored three runs, freshman Ashlyn VanFleet scored twice, and sophomore Addy Repsher scored one run, and drove in one run.

Repsher earned the win in relief, allowing two runs on three hits, while striking out four and walking two in 3 2/3 innings of relief.

Williams homered, doubled, and singled, scored two runs, and collected five RBI, and Tate doubled twice, scored two runs, and drove in three runs to lead Troy’s 11-hit attack.

Athens returns to action Monday at Wellsboro.

ATHENS — It was a hitter’s type of day as Athens stayed unbeaten, topping Towanda, 19-9, in five innings during NTL Large School Division softball action Tuesday.

“I never thought it was going to happen,” said coach Mickey Farrell. “Again our bats were on fire here. It’s the same old, same old; our defense has got to get better, and we can not be walking 7-8-9 hitters, and we’re doing that a lot.

“But to be undefeated at this point, how can you not be happy?”

The Wildcats used a 10-run first inning to take a 10-2 lead, then simply went back and forth with Towanda from there on out.

Caydence Macik (2-for-3) had a home run, double, two runs scored and two RBI for the Wildcats, while Audrey Hatch (2-for-4), Aliyah Butler (2-for-3) and Macie Coyle (2-for-4) all had multi-hit games. Hatch had three runs scored with an RBI, Butler crossed home three times, and Coyle had a double with two runs and three RBI.

Harley Sullivan (1-for-3) and Mallory Mummert (1-for-2) each scored three times and  had two RBI, while Addy Repsher (1-for-3) and Megan Collins (1-for-3) both scored and Megan Collins also had an RBI. Carlie Simpson (1-for-1) had an RBI, with Ashlyn VanFleet knocking in two runs while also scoring.

Macik got the win, striking out one with eight walks.

Lizzy Matera (3-for-3) and Maddie Maynard (3-for-3) led Towanda. Maynard had a double with two runs, and Matera scored one run.

Jocelyn Bennett (2-for-4) and Athena Chacona (2-for-2) also had multi-hit games with Chacona adding a double.

Shaylee Greenland (1-for-2), Paige Perry (1-for-2) and Saige Greenland (1-for-2) also had hits. Shaylee Greenland doubled and scored two runs, and Perry and Saige Greenland both scored. Brea Overpeck crossed home twice as well.

Maynard gets the loss, striking out three with eight walks.

Towanda started off strong as Chacona hit a two-out double to put the Knights up 2-0.

In the bottom half of the inning, though, Athens batted around. At one point seven straight batters came around to score. Macik punctuated the rally with a two-out home run to right field, avenging a strikeout from earlier in the inning.

Towanda didn’t lie down, though, as Shaylee Greenland led off the next inning with a single and eventually scored, cutting it to 10-3.

The Wildcats would add on with a two-out rally in the second inning, as Coyle reached on an error, followed by Sullivan getting a single and Hatch doubling. All three would end up scoring in the inning to make it 13-3 Athens.

In the bottom of the third, the Wildcats went up 15-3 as Butler and Mummert led off with back-to-back walks. After two outs were record, Coyle doubled them in.

Towanda came back in the top of the fourth, scoring four runs. Saige Greenland started the rally with a one-out walk. Two batters later, Matera and Overpeck drew walks, setting the table for Maynard, who doubled all three in. She would later score on a Chacona single to cut it to 15-7.

ATHENS — The Athens softball program, coached by Mickey Farrell, recently presented the Valley Food Pantry with a donation of $1,600 as part of its annual team fundraising efforts.

“It was a fundraiser for our team, but we split the money raised 50 / 50 with the Valley Food Pantry,” said Farrell.

The varsity and JV team members did several fund-raising activities, including one at the Valley Bowling Center.

“The girls got  people to sponsor them either by flat fee or cents per pin and then we bowled three games. It was a lot of fun, and the Valley Bowling Center, which was one of our sponsors, was a wonderful host,” said Farrell.

Farrell also thanked the other corporate sponsors: The Grille, Reese’s Family Restaurant, Bimbo Bakeries, and Apothecary of Mary .

Farrell said the idea of donating to the Valley Food Pantry this year came from one of his players.

“Last year, we donated $700 to the Wounded Warrior Amputee softball team out of Virginia Beach,” he said. “This year. we wanted to help our community.

“One of my seniors suggested the Valley Food Pantry, because The Rusty Rail Game usually donates to it, but with Covid this year, there wasn’t much done in terms of collecting food items,” added Farrell.

The Athens varsity softball roster consists of Megan Collins, Harley Sullivan, Aubrey Hatch, Mallory Mummert, Carlie Simpson, Macie Coyle, Aliyah Butler, Addy Repsher, Caydence Macik,   Ashlyn VanFleet, Mackenzie Morgan, Marissa Butler, Alli Thoman, and Braelyn Wood.

The junior varsity roster consists of Kaylee Peterson, Destiney Henderson, Haley Schultz, Abby Champion, Ciara Devine, Cailin McDaniel, and Jillian Bradley.

WESTFIELD, Pa. — Senior Audrey Hatch delivered the game-winning hit, and sophomore Addy Repsher preserved the win with a defensive gem here Monday afternoon in Athens’ wild, 14-13, eight-inning win over Cowanesque Valley in NTL softball action.

“It was a crazy back-and-forth game,” said Athens coach Mickey Farrell. “It was exciting.

“Twice, the bottom of our line-up — Mallory Mummert, Ashlyn VanFleet, and Macie Coyle — turned it over to the top of our line-up, and our top four hitters did what they were suppose to do,” noted Farrell.

“I told (the bottom of the order) this win was as much them, as it was the top of our order,” added Farrell, noting the top four hitters combined for 12 hits, nine runs scored, and 12 RBI.

With two outs in the top of the eighth inning, a hustling Coyle beat out a grounder to shortstop that was mishandled. Senior Harley Sullivan singled to advance Coyle to third base, and Hatch plated her with a single.

In the bottom of the inning, junior Caydence Macik, in her second inning of relief, struck out the first batter, but then gave up singles to the eight and nine hitters — Autumn Outman and Keyana Thomas.

CV lead-off hitter Katie Adams then ripped a line drive toward right field, but a leaping Repsher at first base, snared the liner and tagged the runner coming back to the bag for the game-ending double play.

“That was a really nice, heads-up play by Addy,” said Farrell. “It was a great play.”

Athens took a quick 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning in a rally that featured an RBI single by Macik and a two-run home run by Repsher.

Cowanesque Valley, however, answered with five runs in the home half of the first. Makayla Vargeson provided the key hit with a three-run home run — the first of two long balls in the contest.

The Lady Indians scored two runs in the second and another in the third to take an 8-5 lead.

“They shut us down until the sixth inning … keeping it close was the key,, though” said Farrell. “I feel if we keep it close, we can come back on anybody.”

Athens scored twice in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Macik and an RBI single by Repsher, but Vargeson’s two-run homer in the home half of the inning pushed the lead back to 10-7.

Mummert led off the top of the seventh inning with a single, and VanFleet and Coyle worked walks, sandwiched around an out, to load the bases for the top of the line-up.

Sullivan ripped a two-run double to trim the deficit to 10-9, and Hatch tied the game with an RBI single. Macik then drove a 3-1 pitch over the fence to give the Lady Wildcats a 13-10 lead.

“(Caydence) Macik hit a bomb — I think it’s still going,” said Farrell.

The bottom of the CV line-up answered as Thomas belted a two-run triple to trim the lead to 13-12, and Adams delivered an RBI single to tie the game.

Hatch stroked four singles, scored three runs, and drove in two runs, Macik had three hits, including a home run, two runs scored and four RBI, and Sullivan had three hits, including a double, three runs scored, and three RBI to lead Athens’ 16-hit attack.

Repsher homered and singled, scored once, and drove in three runs in the win, while sophomore Aliyah Butler singled twice, Mummert singled and scored one run, Coyle doubled and scored two runs, and Ali Thoman crossed the plate once.

Macik earned the win for Athens, pitching two innings of shutout ball. She allowed three hits, and struck out two.

“Caydence did an awesome job,” said Farrell. “She wasn’t warmed up at all, and came in and threw strikes.

“She earned the start tomorrow against Towanda — it’s a big game for us,” Farrell added.

While Athens is off to a 4-0 start, Farrell said his team is not clicking on all cylinders.

“We can score with anyone,” he said. “Defensively, however, we’re not playing with enough urgency. I think at times we’re unsure what to do with the ball, and I think a lot of that comes from the fact we’ve had two practices outside.

“We’re where we need to be hitting-wise, but we still have a long ways to go defensively.”

Farrell also had words of praise for Cowanesque Valley.

“(CV coach Mike Vargeson) does a nice job,” said Farrell. “That teams is one of the best two-strike approach teams I’ve ever seen. They put the ball in play almost every time we had them 0-2, or 1-2.

“There’s no doubt in my mind, (CV) will win the NTL Small School Division. They just have too much hitting.

“And, (Makayla) Vargeson is going to be in the hunt for league MVP,” added Farrell. “She is really good.”

Athens returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Towanda.

ATHENS — Sayre scored first, but Athens answered with a flurry of runs on its way to a 14-1 four-inning win here Saturday afternoon in NTL softball action.

Madison Smith reached base on an error to lead off the top of the first inning for Sayre, and scored on a two-out RBI double by Hailey McCaig — the Lady Redskins’ only hit of the game.

Harley Sullivan led off the home half of first with a double. It was the first of five hits in a six-run rally that gave the Lady Wildcats a 6-1 lead.

Athens starter Aliyah Butler shut down Sayre in the second and third inning, allowing only a walk to Smith in the top of the third.

In the bottom of the third, Butler rapped a pair of doubles, the second one driving in two runs, and courtesy-runner Alli Thoman scored a pair of runs, and Mallory Mummert tripled and doubled and knocked in two runs.

In all, Athens scored seven runs on nine hits in the frame to extend its lead to 13-1.

Butler earned the win for the Lady Wildcats, allowing an unearned run on one hit, while striking out three and walking one in three innings of work. Addy Repsher pitched one inning of shutout relief, striking out one and walking two.

Butler also led Athens at the plate. She was 3-for-3 with two doubles, and three RBI, while Mummert tripled and doubled, scored two runs, and drove in two runs, and Repsher singled twice, scored two runs, and knocked in two runs in the Lady Wildcats’ 16-hit attack.

Sullivan doubled twice, and scored one run in the win, while Audrey Hatch singled twice, scored one run, and drove in one run, Ashlyn VanFleet singled twice, scored one run, and had two RBI, and Caydence Macik singled, scored two runs, and drove in one run.

Megan Collins doubled and drove in one run for the Lady Wildcats, while Braelyn Wood singled, Thoman scored three runs, and Devine crossed the plate once.

Athens, now 3-0, returns to action Monday at Cowanesque Valley, while Sayre (0-1) hosts Canton Tuesday.

EAST TROY — Athens scored eight runs in the top of the first inning, and sophomore Mason Lister tossed three no-hit innings to earn his first varsity win in a 12-2 five-inning decision over Troy here Tuesday afternoon in NTL Large School baseball action.

The win was also the first career varsity win for first-year Athens coach Charlie Havens, who spent 20 years (18 at Waverly and two at Corning) as a JV coach.

“I felt like we let one get away from us last week at Canton,” said Havens. “To come back and get that first win out of the way feels pretty good.”

Junior Karter Rude led off the game with a single, and sophomore Jaren Glisson worked a walk. Consecutive wild pitches gave Athens a quick 1-0 lead, and left Glisson at third base.

After a walk to sophomore Cam Sullivan, Lister ripped an RBI double to make it 2-0. Moments later, sophomore Lucas Kraft stroked an RBI single to up the lead to 3-0.

Consecutive walks to junior Kyler Setzer, senior Ben Vough and junior Josiah Stringham forced home two runs to make it 5-0. Rude stroked a two-run single push the lead to 7-0, and Lister capped the rally with an RBI single.

“We really came out swinging and we were aggressive on the base paths,” said Havens. “It was good to get guys moving, and see what we could do.

“We hit the ball really well, especially in that first inning, then we tacked on a few runs throughout the game,” he added.

The Wildcats added a run in the second and two more to extend the lead to 11-0.

Meanwhile, Lister fanned seven and walked four in three innings of no-hit ball.

“He’s thrown six innings of one-hit ball so far this year,” said Havens.

“As the game goes on, and the more pitches he throws, he gets stronger, and really starts pounding the strike zone,” added Havens. “He’s been really good for us.”

Lister has struck out 14 and walked six in six innings this season.

Rude singled twice, scored two runs, and drove in two runs to lead Athens at the plate, while Lister doubled, scored one run, and knocked in two runs, and Kraft singled, scored run, and had one RBI.

Kyler Setzer scored three runs in the win, while Vough had two RBI and one runs scored, Glisson scored two runs, Stringham scored one run and drove in one run, and Sullivan crossed the plate once.

Glisson allowed one run on two hits, while striking out two in one inning of relief, and Rude allowed an unearned run on two hits, with two strikeouts and one walk.

Athens, now 1-1, returns to action Monday at Cowanesque Valley in a game that was originally scheduled for Thursday.

EAST TROY — Sophomore Aliyah Butler earned her first varsity win in her first varsity start, pitching a two-hitter to lead Athens to a 13-0 win over Troy here Tuesday afternoon in NTL Large School softball action.

“Tonight was all about Aliyah (Butler),” said Athens coach Mickey Farrell. “She was impressive in her first varsity start.”

Butler struck out seven and walked one, while allowing just a pair of singles.

“(Catcher) Harley (Sullivan) called a really good game,” said Farrell. “She had (Butler) moving the ball all over the place.”

The Lady Wildcats jumped out to a quick lead with three runs in the top of the first inning. Audrey Hatch drove in the first run with an RBI single, Addy Repsher added an RBI single, and Ashlyn VanFleet knocked home a run with an RBI groundout.

Athens put the game away with six runs in the top of the second to take a 9-0 lead.

Caydence Macik and VanFleet collected RBIs with bases-loaded walks to extend the lead to 5-0.

Butler helped her own cause with a three-run double, and scored moments later on an RBI single by Mallory Mummert.

Athens played a bit of long ball in the fifth inning. Mummert led off the frame with a home run, and Hatch capped the rally with a three-run shot to make it 13-0.

“We hit the ball hard today,” said Farrell. “We hit two home runs again … Mallory Mummert crushed one, (Audrey) Hatch hit her second one, and Aliyah helped her own cause with a bases-loaded double.

“We left 12 runners on base (at Canton), but that wasn’t the case tonight,” noted Farrell. “We only left three runners on base, so we did a much better job.

“All week, we stressed putting the ball in play, and making the defense work,” he added. “Tonight, it worked.”

Hatch led Athens at the plate with a home run, a double, three runs scored, and four RBI, while Mummert homered and singled, scored one run, and drove in two runs, and Butler doubled, scored one run, and had three RBI.

Harley Sullivan singled and scored three runs in the win, while Megan Collins singled twice and scored one run, Macie Coyle singled and scored one run, Repsher singled and drove in one run, VanFleet had two RBI and one run scored, and Macik crossed the plate twice.

The Lady Wildcats, who entered the season with very little experience, are off to a 2-0 start.

“As a coaching staff, we’re thrilled to be 2-0, but we know we still have a lot of work to do,” said Farrell.

Athens returns to action Monday at Cowanesque Valley in a game that was originally scheduled for Thursday.

CANTON — Athens banged out 20 hits, and held off a late Canton rally to post a 10-8 season-opening win here Friday afternoon in NTL softball action.

With the 2020 season canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was the first game for the Lady Wildcats since May 24, 2019 — a 3-2 loss to Bloomsburg in the District 4, Class AAA quarterfinals.

“It was nice to get back out there,” said Athens coach Mickey Farrell. “The atmosphere was electric, everybody was happy to be playing.

“I’m just glad the kids got a chance to play. We had a lot of fun,” he added. “To get the win was just icing on the cake.”

With a large group of sophomores and freshmen on the roster, the Lady Wildcats entered the game with little varsity experience.

“It’s good to get this first win, especially with a team that I had no idea about how it would respond, but the intensity level was there,” said Farrell. “The girls came out and played hard.”

Athens jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on RBI singles by junior Caydence Macik, sophomore Addy Repsher, and senior Mallory Mummert.

Canton answered with a pair of runs in the home half of the inning to trim the deficit to 3-2.

Senior Megan Collins slugged a two-RBI double in the top of the third to make it 5-2. The Lady Warriors again answered with two runs to slice the lead to 5-4.

In the top of the fourth, senior Audry Hatch ripped a lead-off solo home run, freshman Ashley VanFleet added an RBI single, and Collins drove in a run with a groundout to make it 8-4.

The Lady Wildcats tacked on a run in the top of the fifth inning to make it 9-4.

Canton scored four times in the home half of the sixth, but Macik, on in relief of Repsher, stranded the would-be tying run at third base.

Junior Macie Coyle belted a lead-off double in the top of the seventh inning, and scored on a one-out RBI single by Hatch to give Athens a 10-8 lead.

The Lady Warriors threatened in the bottom of the seventh, but Hatch threw a runner out at the plate, and Macik ended the game with a strikeout to strand runners at first and second.

“Our bats won the game today, there’s no doubt about that,” said Farrell. “A lot of girls got their first varsity hits today.”

Repsher, VanFleet, Mummert, Coyle, and senior Carlie Simpson all collected their first career hits.

Hatch had three hits, including a home run, scored two runs, and drove in two runs, while Collins had three hits, including a double, and three RBI, Repsher had three hits, one run scored, and one RBI, and senior Harley Sullivan stroked three singles and scored one run to pace Athens at the plate.

Macik and VanFleet each had two hits, two runs scored and one RBI in the win, while Mummert singled twice, scored one run, and drove in one run, Coyle doubled, scored one run, and knocked in one run, and Simpson added a single.

Repsher earned the win for the Lady Wildcats, allowing seven runs on nine hits, while striking out four and walking seven in 5 1/3 innings of work.

Macik recorded the save, allowing one run on two hits, while striking out three and walking two in 1 2/3 innings in the circle.

“The reason this team is going to be successful is versatility; we have a number of girls that can play three or four positions,” said Farrell. “When we made the pitching change in the sixth inning, we made five line-up changes; that doesn’t happen on every team.”

Athens returns to action Thursday at Cowanesque Valley.