WAYNESBORO – It took nearly a week for Waynesboro’s varsity baseball game against Greencastle-Antrim to be played.
The game was originally postponed on Monday and again on Tuesday. It was then rescheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m., an interesting day for the Blue Devils to be playing baseball – it was also prom day at G-A.
Well, the big night awaiting G-A players didn’t affect their motivation or concentration. The Blue Devils compiled eight hits, two off the bat of Ryan Farrow, but they also benefited from Waynesboro mistakes that cost the Indians in a 10-3 loss.
Farrow, batting seventh in the lineup, reached base three times, hit an RBI single in the fourth inning and a back breaking two-run base hit in the bottom of the sixth inning to help G-A to another lopsided win against the Indians this season.
It’s been a trying season for Waynesboro, who slipped to 8-9 on the season.
Pitching has been a part of it. And, seven walks and two hit batsmen didn’t help.
“(Saturday), we definitely got thin on pitching,” said Waynesboro coach Travis Hardman. “Ethan Hotchkiss started for us, and he did pretty well. I went with Seth Dodson and closed with a freshman, John Kahl.
“This year we’ve been trying to get by with two starters.”
The lion’s share of pitching has rested with junior Mason Gochenour and senior Aiden Campbell. But, with games on Thursday and Friday, Hardman had to go with a different starter. Hotchkiss struggled in the first inning with a hit batsman and two walks. He also gave up a pair of singles and the defense committed an error as G-A scored three runs.
Blue Devils pitcher Landon Huth was purring along, thanks to a confidence-building first inning when he struck out the side and the offense took it from there.
Hotchkiss had a much better second and third innings. He looked more comfortable on the mound, and it showed. He allowed one baserunner in each inning. He was replaced in the fourth inning after issuing a one-out walk and surrendering back-to-back two-out singles by Carter Reid and Ethan Ford. Ford’s single scored Austin Wyand, who walked and was helped around the bases by the second and third batters in the lineup.
Wyand, batting ninth, reached base in all three at bats and scored two runs. He was sent home in the sixth on a single by Darren Kline.
Dodson got a strikeout to end the inning, but the Indians were stymied by Huth, who was pitching the right pitches and getting the outs after contact.
Huth’s only hurdle was in the top of the second when Waynesboro scored two runs. However, Waynesboro could have done more but had a runner tagged out at second out at second after advancing on a line out. Still, Logan Clapsaddle walked and later scored with Kellan Smith at bat. Bryan Benedict hit a bunt single and scored, but the Tribe left the bases loaded.
It cost them as the game progressed.
Before G-A’s biggest inning of the game, they led 5-3 after Clapsaddle again reached base and scored on a fielder’s choice with Benedict at the plate. The Blue Devils removed two more baserunners on force outs.
Greencastle batted around in the sixth inning and scored five runs to put the game well out of reach.
Relief pitcher Adam Horst, who entered the game in the sixth inning, struck out two batters in the seventh and third baseman Jarek Szaflarski nabbed a line out for the second out.
“With a young team, we can look pretty good and then not so much,” said Hardman, whose team will return seven of nine starters. “We had a good week last week, winning three games. This week we lost three games. We have three sophomore infielders. Ethan is a sophomore, Seth is a junior and John is freshman.
“They have done a good job staying together. When they break from their huddle, they say ‘family.’ This is their baseball family. I’ve enjoyed coaching them. I think they have pretty good attitudes. They’re coachable.”
For all of its struggles, Waynesboro still has a chance to break into the top 12 in District 3-6A. The Indians are currently ranked 13th (before Saturday’s game) but need help. Three wins this week against Shippensburg, James Buchanan and Spring Grove would help, but they’ll have to put a three-game losing streak well behind them and play the games of their lives and then get help.
It starts with a home game against Shippensburg on Tuesday at 4:15 p.m.
