The night proved to be an offensive onslaught for Williamsport with runs scored in four different innings on route to a comfortable victory under the Bowman Field lights.

“I think this team is better than (the 2024 first-half champion) team, because the whole league is better,” discussed Williamsport Crosscutter manager Kenny Thomas. “The pitching in this league has gotten so good. Runs are hard to get. I do see a similarity with their desire to play the game. We’ve gained that a little bit here and started learning that we want to play and play hard.”

After teasing the hometown fans with hits in each of the first two innings, the Cutters would officially break the deadlock in the third starting with a leadoff double from nine-hole hitter George Malone. He would get sent home in a similar fashion an at-bat later, with a Kyle Schupmann double down the left-field line sending in the catcher for the opening run.

Schupmann would get his way to third courtesy of a throwing error, with the top of the order hitter reaching home on a Maddix Dalena sacrifice fly.

Maddix Dalena of the Crosscutters signs autographs for young fans after the Cutters won 8-1 over Mahoning Valley at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The Cutters would put further pressure an inning later, loading the bases with no outs on slap singles from Chris Stanfield and Owen Prince with a fielding error putting Slaide Burd on the first base bag.

A fielder’s choice out at home later, and Schupmann would come clutch once again with a sacrifice flyout that brought in Prince for a 3-0 game.

That run allowed would be the last batter faced for Mahoning Valley Scrapper starter Chris Domke. The right hander making his second appearance as a Scrapper would not replicate his four shutout innings last week, going three and two thirds of an inning allowing three runs on six hits with a walk and a strikeouts.

Meanwhile, Williamsport starter Brett Antolick would provide a shutout performance in his four innings at the hill, conceding just one hit while tossing five strikeouts.

With Antolik relieved, Mahoning Valley would strike back in the top of the fifth, with a leadoff Tommy Harrison double and Tristan Strickland single putting runners at the corners with no outs. The Scrappers would manage one run from the hot start, as Edison Polanco’s one out grounder to first brought in Harrison to put the visitors on the board.

Crosscutters Manager Kenny Thomas celebrates with his players after an 8-1 win over Mahoning Valley at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The fifth inning would prove run heavy, as the Crosscutters started the frame with back-to-back one out walks from Ben Tryon and Nick Barone. Two batters later and Owen Prince would come up big, notching his second RBI of the season on a single to right field that brought in Tryon.

Barone, a Loyalsock graduate, would double the run tally in the inning two pitches later, sliding home safe on a successful double steal for a 5-1 scoreline after five.Williamsport would continue their offensive surge in the sixth, starting with a third hit on the day from Kyle Schupmann. After an Addison Smith walk, a double steal put two in scoring position for Ben Tryon, who netted his 11th RBI on the season on a sacrifice fly to score the leadoff batter.

The run would continue with Barone, as former Lancer walked and executed a double steal to put runners juiced with two outs. With designated hitter Chris Stanfield at the plate, the Tallahassee native would blow the game away with a two run single up the middle to clear the bases and make it 8-1 Williamsport.

“We’ve been working on some things in batting practice with him,” echoed Thomas following Stanfield’s best performance of the year. “He’s looking better. And you want him to put the ball in play because he can run.”

That would be all the scoring required, with Mahoning putting up zeros across innings seven, eight and nine to clinch Williamsport’s eighth win in nine contests.

Nick Barone of the Crosscutters slides home safely in the 5th inning against Mahoning Valley at Bowman Field. Final score 8-1 with the Cutters winning their 7th game in a row. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The win moves Williamsport to 9-5 on the season, inching themselves to within three games of the first-place Trenton Thunder in the MLB Draft League. The Cutters will look to continue their hot start on the road this week, with Williamsport taking on the Aberdeen Ironbirds in a three-game set beginning Friday night.

Ben Tryon of the Crosscutters scores in the 5th on a single by Owen Prince against Mahoning Valley at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Kyle Schupmann of the Crosscutters is safe at second base as Edison Polanco of Mahoning Valley can’t make the play at first during the first inning single at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Kyle Schupmann of the Crosscutters points back to the dugout after a first inning single against Mahoning Valley at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Starting pitcher Brett Antolick of the Crosscutters of throws in the first inning against Mahoning Valley at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette