PUNXSUTAWNEY — Some sloppy fielding and 10 strikeouts were enough to sink the Bradford Owls in their 2019 season opener Wednesday.
Despite holding Punxsutawney to seven hits, Bradford (0-1) committed four errors in the game which led to several unearned runs for the Chucks and a 4-3 defeat.
With the score tied 3-3 in the sixth inning, Bradford’s Tyler Gigliotti walked three batters leading to Punxsy pushing across the go-ahead run.
“We just didn’t field the ball as well as we should have,” BHS head coach Andy Carlson said. “We have the talent to do better; it just didn’t come together tonight.”
Austen Davis led the Owls at the plate with two hits and an RBI while Peyton Manion and Caleb Nuzzo notched an RBI each.
Manion got the start and threw five innings on the mound for Bradford, striking out two and allowing just one earned run.
Alec Greenblatt had two singles for Punxsy, while Daren Byers had the only extra-base hit with a double.
Bradford returns to the field Monday against DuBois Catholic.
AT PUNXSUTAWNEY
R H E
Bradford 201 000 0 3 4 4
Punxsy 210 001 X 4 7 2
Peyton Manion (2 SO, 3 BB), (Gigliotti (6) (1 SO 3 BB), and Caleb Nuzzo
Alec Greenblatt (7 SO, 1 BB), Derek Huey (5) (3 SO), and Adison Neal
Coudersport 11, Cowanesque Valley 0
WESTFIELD — Coudersport used stellar pitching for the second straight day to down Cowanesque Valley in a non-league baseball contest.
After hurling a no-hitter against Galeton Tuesday, the Falcons’ Blake Burgett and A.J. Redmond allowed just three hits and shut out the Indians Wednesday.
“Pitching has done well, definitely can’t argue with that,” Coudy coach Doug McClintic said. “Today we were without two of our stars (Owen Chambers and Kolby VanWhy) who are on a trip to France. I’m very pleased with our guys stepping up and filling those shoes.”
Burgett struck out two over five innings of work, while A.J. Redmond picked up three Ks to close the win with a scoreless sixth and seventh.
Kullen Crosby crushed three hits and had four RBI to lead Coudersport (2-0) at the dish, while Eli Ayers added a double and two RBI and Burgett had two hits.
“We were up 9-0 in the fifth and had a chance to 10-run them, but we didn’t get them across the plate,” McClintic said. “But we didn’t give up and kept plugging away to finish it off.”
The Falcons return to the diamond next Wednesday against Mansfield.
AT WESTFIELD
R H E
Coudy 012 600 2 11 12 2
C. Valley 000 000 0 0 3 2
Blake Burgett (2 SO), A.J. Redmond (6) (3 SO), and Hunter Redmond
Suyler (6 SO, 4 BB), Kemp (4) (2 BB), Sottoland (4) (1 BB), Nunn (6) (1 SO, 2 BB), St. Peter (7), and K. Easton
Smethport 12, Oswayo Valley 0, 5 innings
SHINGLEHOUSE — Nate Hollowell spun a no-hitter and Smethport surged to a dominant season-opening win over defending Northern Allegany champion Oswayo Valley.
Hollowell struck out nine batters over five innings of work, and got plenty of help from his teammates at the plate.
Noah Costa went 2-for-2 and had three RBI, while Alex Sanderson ripped a single and scored three times.
“Nate came out and did exactly what we wanted him to do,” Smethport coach Colby Austin said. “Started off a little wild (two walks) but was able to get under control and pitched a nice game for us.”
The Hubbers (1-0, 1-0) were also aided by five errors from the Green Wave, which had to replace nearly its entire roster from a team that made it to a fourth consecutive District 9 title game appearance in 2018.
Noah Wichert gave up eight earned and took the loss for OV (0-1, 0-1).
AT SHINGLEHOUSE
R H E
Smethport 325 02X X 12 9 0
Oswayo 000 00X X 0 0 5
Nate Hollowell (9 SO, 2 BB), and Travis Cooney/Alex Sanderson
Noah Wichert (3 SO, 5 BB), Sawyer Prince (3) (1 SO, 1 BB), and Ian Bilski
