WAYNESBORO – What a difference a game makes.
Two days after getting stonewalled by Greencastle, Wednesday, the Waynesboro American Legion Post 15 baseball team socked it to McConnellsburg in a four-inning 15-0 victory in a Franklin County American Legion League game at Robinson Field.
As for old business, Post 15 lost 12-3 to Greencastle.
Now on to new business. Waynesboro broke open the game against Post 561 with a nine-run first inning and never looked back.
Starting (and finishing) pitcher Blake Daywalt looked like a high school ace pitcher. The lefthander befuddled McConnellsburg hitters the entire game, even though he pitched only four innings. In fact, Daywalt pitched a no-hitter – and was one at-bat away from a perfect game.
“Blake’s been pitching well all year,” said Waynesboro Post 15 manager Dan McCleaf, whose team played with just 10 out of 17 players. “He’s gotten all the big games for us, and he hasn’t had one bad outing all season. I’m happy with his progress; I hope he takes it to the next level in high school next year.
“He pitched a no-hitter and was close to pitching a perfect game. You can’t ask for any more.”
Using a premium blend of his pitches, Daywalt breezed through the Post 561 lineup. He struck out only two, but the way the defense was playing, it didn’t matter.
After striking out the first batter he faced, Daywalt induced a flyout to centerfielder Logan Clapsaddle and a ground out to shortstop John Kahl, who threw to first baseman Brett Powell for the third out.
Two flyouts and a ground out summarized the second inning; and an unassisted putout at first base, a strikeout, and a grounder to third baseman Ethan Earley capped off the third inning.
In the fourth inning, second baseman Brody Daywalt made a nice ranging catch of a line drive. Kahl picked up his second assist. Then, an infield error allowed McConnellsburg’s lone base runner of the game. But the inning ended on the next at-bat as Earley recorded his second assist.
Post 15 sent 13 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning. Kahl scored two runs, and Waynesboro capitalized on four walks. Kahl walked to lead off the inning. Powell also drew a base on balls. After an out, Earley singled home Kahl. Eric Knepper singled to load the bases. Daywalt singled to plate Powell and Devin Wynkoop smacked a base hit to score Earley. Seth Dodson delivered a two-run single, and, after a pitching change, Brody Daywalt singled to score Wynkoop. Daywalt scored on a balk, and Kahl stole home for the ninth run of the inning.
Waynesboro scored a run in the third inning when Dodson led off with a triple and scored on a single by Daywalt. Post 15 could have scored more runs, but it left the bases loaded.
Waynesboro put an early end to the game by scoring five runs in the bottom of the fourth to trigger the 15-run rule.
Post 15 plays its final regular-season game on Monday at home against Chambersburg. A win would even Waynesboro’s league record at 8-8.
Waynesboro will then host the 2023 Region 4 tournament from July 15-19.
