WAYNESBORO – The Waynesboro Indians varsity baseball team led by a run early in the game and then trailed by a run midway into their non-league game against visiting Cumberland Valley.
Needing a boost, the Tribe got it when they scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and then held the Eagles scoreless in the final three innings on the way to an 8-2 win.
It was Waynesboro’s third straight victory, and, with a big stretch of games coming up against Mid-Penn Colonial Division opponents West Perry, Shippensburg and Greencastle-Antrim, Saturday’s contest serves as a good rallying point.
A strong pitching performance from Mason Gochenour coupled with a solid performance by the defense kept the Indians in the game until things got on track at the plate.
Gochenour pitched into the seventh inning and was replaced by Blake Daywalt after pitching his limit (100 pitches). Gochenour struck out four batters and allowed seven hits, including a solo home run in the third inning. CV took a 2-1 lead in the fourth frame, but Waynesboro tied it in the home fourth after Logan Clapsaddle led off the inning with a walk and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Eric Knepper.
“He’s been solid all year,” said Waynesboro coach Travis Hardman of Gochenour. “He’s had three good starts this year. I’ve been very proud of him. He allowed his first walk of the season today. With that being said, he was awesome. He’s been up around the zone, he’s been locating his pitches. He bends but doesn’t break.”
Cumberland Valley left runners in scoring position in the first four innings. Waynesboro stranded runners on second and third bases in the second inning and on second base in the third.
It’s worth noting that Waynesboro’s outfield (Knepper in left field, Kellan Smith in center field and Clapsaddle in right field) came up huge on a very windy day, making nine outs in the game.
But that all changed in a frenetic fifth inning. After an out, Tank Benedict walked. Ethan Hotchkiss singled and John Kahl walked to load the bases. Clapsaddle drew a run-scoring walk, and Tyler Caron delivered a two-run double. Kellan Smith followed with another RBI base hit, and Benedict hit an RBI single.
“Both teams had gotten guys on base,” Hardman said. “The inning before we loaded the bases. Finally, we got some clutch hits. It was a total team effort.”
Waynesboro hosts West Perry on Tuesday at 4:15 p.m.
