WAYNESBORO – The Waynesboro Indians varsity baseball team didn’t need a comeback against Spring Grove in their non-conference game played on Friday, April 25 at Robinson Field.
Waynesboro broke open a scoreless tie by scoring six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, and then added two runs in the home sixth inning after the Rockets plated a pair of runs in the top of the sixth.
Despite being 6-7 with seven games to play in the regular season, the Indians are still in contention for a District 3-6A playoff berth. The top 14 teams from 6A qualify for the postseason. Waynesboro is perched at number 16. They’ll need help, but considering there 20.are 27 teams in Class 6A, it could be worse.
Through 4 ½ innings, neither team scored, though Waynesboro had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the first inning. Riley Eaton reached base on an error to start things off. After two straight outs, Brett Powell and Eric Knepper walked off Spring Grove starting pitcher Abrum Dull. However, Dull got out of further trouble by striking out the next batter after pitching to a full count.
Meanwhile, Waynesboro pitcher John Kahl, who pitched a complete-game against Big Spring last Monday, worked five strong innings before hitting a bump in the road in the sixth stanza,. He gave up a lead-off double in the first frame, but he induced a fly ball to centerfielder Gunner Shifflett for the first out, Logan McMaster reached base on a fielder’s choice, and Kahl struck out the next batter to end the inning.
In the top of the second inning, Kahl struck out the lead-off hitter, gave up a base hit, and the defense turned an inning-ending double play as Powell fielded a ground ball, flipped the ball to Calvin Myers, who threw a strike to Ethan Hotchkiss.
The Rockets, who are ranked 19th in 5A (the top 14 qualify for the playoffs), left runners on first and third in the third and a runner on third in the fourth inning and on second base in the fifth inning.
The game had the feel of one that was headed to extra innings. But then came the bottom of the sixth inning when the bottom fell out on Spring Grove.
After Shifflett hit a hard double and Eaton singled him home, the Rockets turned to relief pitcher Brayson Gladfelter. But the Indians continued to pound the ball and were helped out by two walks. Myers walked. Tank Benedict singled and Brett Powell walked. After an
out, Jack Knepper reached base on an error to score Myers. Hotchkiss also got on base via an error that plated Benedict. One out later, Rylan Nicols forced home Powell with a walk. Shifflett doubled, and Eaton walked resulting in the sixth run of the inning.
Waynesboro will play at Greencastle-Antrim on Tuesday.
