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WELLSBORO -- Wellsboro needed a spark. Following a three-game losing streak against powers Sayre, Wyalusing and South Williamsport, the Hornets' record had dropped from 5-1 to 5-4. So, Wellsboro manager Steve Adams used one of the oldest tricks in the book: shaking up the lineup. It worked to perfection. Wellsboro scored twelve runs in the first two innings and they beat a dangerous Cowanesque Valley team 13-5 Monday afternoon in Wellsboro.
"(After the South Williamsport game) we talked about how we're just a break or two away in some of these games from being the victor and not the loser. We talked about maybe a ball finds a hole, maybe somebody bobbles one, one maybe we get a call, you know anything. I came in after the first ending when we scored five and said, 'I think we caught a break or two' because we got a few hits to fall in holes," Adams said.
The big lineup change may have come as a shock to those who have followed this group of players from Wellsboro since they were little. Conner Adams has been a mainstay in the leadoff spot for Wellsboro since he was seven, and according to Steve Adams, it's the first time he can ever remember Conner not leading off when wearing a Hornet jersey. He responded well to the change, squaring up a half-dozen pitches en route to a 2-5 day that a couple inches here or there, could've been a four-or-five hit day.
"I think it took some pressure off me in the five hole and I ended up having two hits. So I think that helped and we've been hitting a lot in practice and just working on like good bad path and good approaches, so I think that helped a lot,"
In his stead at the top of the Hornet order was sophomore Caden Smith. The sophomore catcher came in with a .389 on-base percentage to go along with a .333 batting average, and he picked up where he left off, going 3 for 4 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Smith didn't look overwhelmed in that spot in the order, and he started bottom of the the first and set the tone for Wellsboro when he singled through the left side against one of the NTL's top arms in McGwire Painter
"I found out (that he'd be moving up to the one hole) yesterday at practice," Smith said. "I'm just trying to contribute to the team the best way I can."
His teammates would keep it going, en route to a five-run first inning highlighted by two-out hits by Brody Morral to bring in one run and Blake Levindoski to bring in two.
After a shutdown inning by Darryn Callahan, Wellsboro got right back to it against CV reliever Jordan Vargeson. Vargeson was unable to record an out, and three straight RBI hits by Cam Brought, Isaac Keane and Adams had the lead to 9-2 before the Indians went to the bullpen once again and brought in Kade Sottolano.
Wellsboro touched him up too, though, and after a Darryn Callahan single, led 12-2, before Tucker St. Peter came in to finally retire the side. But, the damage was done and Wellsboro had a commanding lead.
Wellsboro would cruise home, behind solid pitching from Callahan and Keane, as the Indians repeatedly avoided the ten-run-rule before falling 13-5.
Cowanesque Valley 200 020 1 -- 5 2 4
Wellsboro 570 010 x -- 13 15 1
Mcgwire Painter, Jordan Vargeson (2) Kade Sottolano (2) Tucker St. Peter (2) Mikey Sipps (4) and Mikey Sipps Carter Ackley (4). Darryn Callahan, Isaac Keane (6) and Caden Smith. W: Darryn Callahan. L: McGwire Painter
Top CV hitters: Kade Sottolano 2 RBIs; Tucker St. Peter 1 hit; McGwire Painter 1 hit. Top Wellsboro hitters: Blake Hamblin 3-4, 3 runs; Caden Smith 3-4, 2 runs; Isaac Keane 1-4, 4 RBIs.