DISTRICT 15 LITTLE LEAGUE (MINORS): ATHENS EDGES SAYRE, 7-6, IN SEVEN-INNING WALK-OFF WIN (24 PHOTOS) (2019-06-28)

Valley Sports Report
ATHENS "” Sam Cheresnowsky singled home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift Athens to a 7-6 walk-off win over Sayre in a back-and-forth affair here Friday night in pool play action in the District 15 Little League Minors Division baseball action.

Sayre took the initial lead in the game, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Maison Apgar, and a wild pitch to score the second run.

Athens trimmed the deficit to 2-1 in the home half of the first inning on a double by Cheresnowsky, who moved to third on a passed ball and scored on an error.

In the third inning, Connor Davidson tied the game with a booming triple to left field. He scampered home when the throw to third was high.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Kamdyn Wheeler led off with a walk, and scored on an RBI double by Peter Bertsch.

Athens added a pair of runs on a bases-loaded walk, and a bases-loaded hit batsman to take a 5-2 lead.

In the top of the fifth, Cameron Ross stroked a two-run single to trim the Sayre deficit to 5-4. Later in the inning, Apgar drove home a run with an RBI to tie the game at 5-5.

Cameron Ross gave Sayre a 6-5 lead in the top of the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Brady Flynn.

In the home half of the inning, Wheeler sparked the game-winning rally with a one-out single. After a walk to Bertsch, Cartyr Cockcroft stroked an RBI single to tie the game at 6-6, setting the stage for Cheresnowsky's game-winning two-out RBI single.

Cheresnowsky doubled and singled, scored one run, and drove in one run, and Duncan Thetga singled twice and drove in one run to pace Athens' eight-hit attack.

Bertsch doubled, scored two runs, and drove in one run for Athens, while Wheeler singled and scored two runs, Davidson tripled and scored one run, and Cockcroft singled and drove in one run.

Davidson started on the mound for Athens, allowing two runs - both unearned - on two hits, while striking out five and walking one.

Thetga pitched 1 1/3 inning of hitless relief, striking out three and walking two, while Wheeler allowed three runs - one earned - on two hits with five strikeouts and three walks.

Cockcroft closed out the game, and earned the win. He allowed one run on one hit, while striking out one and walking one in one inning of work.

Apgar singled twice, scored one run, and drove in two runs, and Ross singled, scored one run, and had three RBI, while Flynn singled and scored two runs, and Justin Koenig added a single to account for Sayre's five hits. Ty Owen and Brendan Cooke each scored one run.

Cook had the best turn on the mound for Sayre, allowing one run on two hits, while striking out three and walking two in 1 2/3 innings.

Both teams will play Sunday in the opening round of Minors Division bracket play.