WAYNESBORO – It’s not been the kind of season the Waynesboro Indians varsity baseball team would have preferred.
It’s not the kind of season that Waynesboro is used to. From one season to the next, the Tribe usually competes for a spot in the District 3 playoffs.
Not this season, though head coach Travis Hardman’s team won against visiting Big Spring on Monday, April 21. Starting pitcher John Kahl pitched a complete-game gem, and the defense was strong in support of the right-hander. Kahl allowed only five base runners while giving up four singles and a walk during Waynesboro’s 3-1 win over the Bulldogs.
Kahl was composed and, yes, dominant. He gave up singles in the first and second innings before setting down the side in order in the third and fourth innings. The only trouble he encountered was in the top of the fifth inning with Waynesboro holding a 3-0 lead. Big Spring scored its only run of the game thanks to a pair of singles and a run-scoring sacrifice bunt.
Kahl, who struck out six batters, pitched his third one-two-three inning in the sixth and struck out the final two batters in the seventh stanza after surrendering a lead-off base hit.
The Tribe recorded 11 groundouts in addition to Kahl’s six Ks.
On the other side, Waynesboro had 12 base runners. The game could easily have been a blowout. However, the Indians, who did not play like a team with a 4-6 record, left six of those base runners in scoring position.
Fortunately, the LOBs didn’t end up haunting the Waynesboro nine.
Gunner Shifflett scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning. The centerfielder led off with a walk, advanced to third base on a throwing error, and after a strikeout and another walk, he crossed the plate on a bases-loaded free pass to Ethan Hotchkiss.
The Indians pushed across two more runs In the fourth frame as Eric Knepper led off with a double, Jack Knepper walked, Ryan Nichols hit a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third bases, Shifflett bunted Eric Knepper home, and then lead-off hitter Riley Eaton sacrificed Jack Knepper home.
Waynesboro snapped a two-game losing streak against James Buchanan and Boiling Springs. The Indians will host Northern York on Wednesday at 4:15 p.m. in a Mid-Penn Colonial Division game.
