WAYNESBORO – No comeback was needed for the Waynesboro Indians varsity baseball team on Wednesday.
Waynesboro built a 7-1 lead, and the only hiccup in the game came in the top of the seventh when Shippensburg pushed across two runs. But Blake Daywalt, who pitched a masterful game, gave way to Mason Gochenour with two outs in the top of the seventh. Gochenour got the last out, and the Tribe won its fifth straight game, 7-3 in a Mid-Penn Colonial Division game.
“Pitching comes down to location, movement, and change of speed. Blake knows that,” said Waynesboro coach Travis Hardman. “He’s not overpowering, but he keeps the hitters off balance. He’s good at mixing. He had his changeup, and that’s what kept him ahead of hitters. He was locating his changeup, and every once in a while, he would sneak a fastball in there. It makes the fastball look faster.
The lefthander allowed seven singles and a double. The double came in the top of the seventh inning that led to two runs in the frame. Troy Chamberlin, who had an epic at-bat against Daywalt, hit a two-run single. The Greyhounds managed just one base runner in each of the first four innings.
“I’m very proud of him. He’s been closing out games in pressure situations. He told me going into that inning that he wanted it but he was starting to get a little tired.”
Indeed, hats off to Daywalt, who didn’t spend a lot of time pitching behind in counts. He also put a lot of trust in his defense, who came through with flying colors. Shortstop Calvin Myers put the squeeze on five fly balls, including a highlight-reel catch in the top of the seventh inning. Myers chased down a high pop-up and dove for the catch. Myers also made two assists, both in the fourth inning.
“He was our defensive player of the game,” Hardman said of Myers. “Calvin wanted the ball tonight. He went after those popups.
“It was a total team effort. We still need to clean up a couple of things to get even better. We’re still leaving a lot of base runners out there. We need to get better at-bats in those situations.
“Shippensburg’s a heck of a team. They only had one loss coming into this game; that was in extra innings. They’re well-coached, they have a lot of talent.”
The Indians (5-2) opened the scoring in the first inning when Gochenour was hit by a pitch and scored on a double by Ethan Hotchkiss.
Waynesboro added a run in the second inning. He scored on a bases-loaded single by Tank Benedict.
The Tribe scored three runs in the third inning to take a 5-0 lead. Logan Clapsaddle reached base on an error. Tyler Caron reached on a bunt, and Clapsaddle came all the way around to score thanks to an error. Kellan Smith sent Caron home on a single. Smith scored on a double by Brett Powell.
Shippensburg made a pitching change between the third and fourth innings. Waynesboro went to work on the relief pitcher when Benedict singled and scored on a Hotchkiss triple.
Waynesboro’s final run came in the sixth inning. Smith reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on a base hit from Powell (3 for 4).
The Indians play Greencastle-Antrim on Friday in Greencastle.
