WAYNESBORO – Somehow, Waynesboro and St. Thomas played a game Monday evening.
Mother Nature decided to pour down a bunch of rain in about 15 minutes, but the rain stopped as quickly as it started. That gave Waynesboro coaches enough time to drag the field and hope for a quick dry on the grass in the outfield.
Check and check.
Once the game started, Post 15 scored the first seven runs of the game and averted a late-game collapse to defeat Post 612 by the score of 8-3.
“We left the bases loaded in the fifth. We had a chance to 10-run them there. But all in all it was a good, sound game for us – good hitting, good defense, pitching was decent, so, I’ll take that all day long,” said Waynesboro assistant coach Troy Witte.
“Blake (Daywalt) pitched real well, five strong innings. I wanted him to finish, but Dan (McCleaf) said there were other games. No worries.”
There are three more games for Post 15 before the Region 4 tournament comes to Waynesboro from July 15-19.
In the meantime, Waynesboro – which evened its overall record at 7-7 and won its second straight Franklin County American Legion League game – will adopt a pitch-by-committee for the final three games. John Kahl will start Wednesday’s game at home against Greencastle.
Daywalt will be available to be used as a starter on Friday, also at home against McConnellsburg.
After a scoreless first inning, St. Thomas had a golden opportunity to score first. Kaden Saunders hit a one-out single and Bryson Bennett also singled. However, the momentum was pruned by a force out as Waynesboro shortstop Kahl threw to third baseman Aiden Campbell to record the out on Saunders. Tucker Appleby was on first base as a result of a fielder’s choice. Brandon Scofield singled to load the bases. Campbell ended the inning with a nice snag of a soft line drive that, if the ball was a couple of inches higher, would have probably produced a run.
It didn’t, and Post 15 was the team to strike first in the bottom of the second. Evan Swanson led off with a single and stole second base. Daywalt grounded out, which allowed Swanson to advance to third base. Campbell walked, and Devin Wynkoop laid down a beautiful bunt that brought Swanson home.
It was up to Daywalt and the defense to prevent similar events when Waynesboro built a 5-1 lead against Shippensburg and lost 7-6.
Daywalt retired the first two batters in the top of the third, but St. Thomas hit back-to-back singles. Daywalt put a quick end to the rally with a strikeout.
Post 15 took advantage of another scoreless inning and posted two runs. Logan Clapsaddle hit a one-out double, and after the second out of the inning, Swanson singled home Clapsaddle. Swanson came around to score on a Daywalt double.
Things were much easier for Daywalt in the top of the fourth as he struck out the side after surrendering a lead-off single.
Waynesboro again pounced, scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Brett Powell hit a two-run single. Clapsaddle stole home and Powell scored on an error.
St. Thomas left a pair of runners on base in the fifth, but Waynesboro left the bases loaded in the home fifth.
Then, in the top of the sixth, St. Thomas finally dented the scoreboard with two runs.
Post 15 answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth and Post 612 posted its final run in the seventh when James Bell tripled and stole home.
Clapsaddle made a highlight-reel catch in center field in the third inning. He made a diving catch of a dying fly ball that somehow stayed in his glove. Clapsaddle dove awkwardly and made the catch with the open part of the glove facing downward but still held on.
Clapsaddle was 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs. Swanson singled twice and walked and scored two runs.
Daywalt struck out six batters and gave up six hits, all singles.
