Valley Sports Report
ELMIRA HEIGHTS — Waverly used a six-run third inning to post a 7-3 win over Elmira Heights and advance to its first-ever championship berth in the Elmira Heights Wooden Bat Tournament.
Waverly took advantage of a Heights miscue in the top of second inning, when D.J. Meyers, who walked, scored all the way from first on a bunt off the bat of Zach VanHouten when the throw sailed over the first baseman's head and down the right field line.
Mason Salsman, the winning pitcher, kept the Heights bats quiet through two innings, allowing Waverly to add six runs in the third inning for a 7-0 lead.
Bodine led off the rally with a triple and scored on a double by Salsman to make it 2-0. After a Peyton Miller single, Parker Hendershot delivered a two-run single to make it 4-0. Jacob Goble followed Hendershot's single with a base hit of his own.
Both Hendershot and Goble scored when VanHouten laid down another bunt and it too was thrown away down the right-field line. VanHouten scored moments later on a single by John Ward to make it 7-0 Waverly.
Heights managed a pair of runs in the third inning and one in the fifth inning, but Salsman pitched six strong innings to pick up the win. Salsman allowed three runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out six.
Salsman doubled and singled, scored a run and drove in a run and Hendershot had two singles, drove in two runs and scored a run to lead the Waverly offense. Bodine, Miller and Goble (RBI) each had a hit and a run scored and Ward added a single for the winners.
Waverly will go after its first Wooden Bat title Sunday at 10 a.m. against the winner of the Corning-Elmira Heights game. With Waverly the only unbeaten team remaining team in the tournament, the Corning-Heights winner will have to beat Waverly twice to win the title.
