GROVE CITY, Pa. – Max Knouse capped a four-run ninth inning for Grove City with a walk-off single, as the Eagles rallied from three down in the inning to stun the defending state champion Clarion Bobcats, 9-8.
Nolan Renick hit a mammoth game-tying three-run home run to right earlier in the inning off a hanging curveball from Matt Alston.
Kamden Martin followed with a single off Alston before Noah Harrison relieved and walked the first batter he faced.
Ryker McElhinney then put down a bunt with Clarion getting the out at third. But Alston, now at third base, threw wild to first putting the winning run at third for Grove City.
Harrison got Will Schell to ground out with the runner’s holding, but Knouse delivered the game-winning single to left.
Grove City, which led 4-1 going to the fourth, found itself down 5-4 after Clarion scored twice in the fourth and twice in the fifth.
But Derek Smail hit McElhinney leading off the sixth, and Knouse delivered a game-tying single one-out later.
The game remained tied at five until the ninth when Clarion seemed to take control on a Dawson Smail double to right. Smail then scored on a sac fly to right by Noah Harrison before Tanner Miller brought home a third run on a base hit by Tanner Miller.
But Alston, who pitched a scoreless eighth, gave up a leadoff double to Ethan Adams to start the bottom of the ninth before Paul Gubba drew a walk bringing up Renick, who tied the game.
Grove City took the early lead thanks to a three-run second inning against Clarion ace Devon Lauer.
Lauer, who gave up four earned runs all last season, was charged with four earned runs in just two innings of work. He gave up five hits, including a first-inning home run to Adams. He walked one and struck out four.
Martin started for Grove City and went four innings allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits and five walks while striking out two.
Ben Fischer then went four innings giving up two runs, one earned, on three hits and a hit batter while striking out two.
Knouse picked up the win giving up three earned runs on two hits and two walks in an inning of work.
Adams was 2-for-4 adding a double to his home run while walking once, scoring twice, and driving in two.
Fischer was also 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI for the Eagles with Gubba going 2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI.
Knouse was also 3-for-5 with two RBIs.
Dawson Smail was 2-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI, and a run scored, while Derek Smail was 2-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, a run scored, and an RBI. Alston was also 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
OTTO-ELDRED 13, NORTHERN POTTER 3, 5 INNINGS
ELDRED, Pa. – Jaden Prince had a big game at the plate to lead Otto-Eldred to a 13-3, five-inning victory over visiting Northern Potter.
Price was 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, a walk, and three runs scored.
Andrew Schenfield also went 2-for-2 with a walk and three RBIs for the Terrors, while Jacob Obenrader scored three times while going 1-for-2 with two walks, and an RBI out of the leadoff spot.
Hunter App, hitting in the nine-hole, was 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored in the victory as well.
William Nicholas had an RBI for Northern Potter.
Schenfield got the win going four innings allowing three unearned runs on two hits and six walks while striking out seven.
Owen Daniels took the loss going 1 ⅔ innings giving up five runs, four earned, on four hits, two walks, and three hit batters while striking out one.
UNION CITY 5, CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS 4
UNION CITY, Pa. – Union City scored five runs over the first two innings and made that hold up in a 5-4 win over Cambridge Springs.
Lucas Doutt was 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBIS and two runs for Union City, while Daithan Kent was 3-for-4 with two runs.
Luke Racop tossed four scoreless innings of relief to get the win, allowing just two hits and striking out six without issuing a walk.
Brett Kania was 3-for-4 with an RBI for Cambridge Springs, while Josh Gorton was also 3-for-4 with an RBI and Owen Riley 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Kania took the loss, giving up three unearned runs in the first inning on one hit, striking out one.
REYNOLDS 8, JAMESTOWN 7
TRANSFER, Pa. – Reynolds scored three runs in the sixth inning to rally for an 8-7 win over Jamestown.
Trailing 7-5, Ryan Broadwaters’s RBI single got Reynolds to within one, and Rocky Floch’s two-run single gave the Raiders an 8-7 lead.
Reynolds led 5-1 after the first inning, but Jamestown came storming back to take a 7-5 advantage before the Raiders rallied.
Peyton Ryhal also had two RBIs for Reynolds, while Chase Bell was 2-for-4 with two runs and John McCurdy 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Rhyal got the win in relief, giving up just one hit in two scoreless innings, striking out five.
Troy College, Connor Pressler and Cole Ternant had two RBIs each for Jamestown.
Pressler took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in ⅔ of an inning.
FAIRVIEW 13, MERCER 2, 6 innings
MERCER, Pa. – Fairview took advantage of 14 free passes issued by Mercer pitchers, as well as four errors in a 13-2, 6-inning win.
Eddie Dolansky drew four of those walks and also had a hit and finished with four RBIs, while Tyler Benford was 2-for-2 with two doubles, five runs scored and two walks.
Benford got the win, allowing two runs in three innings on three hits, striking out two without issuing a walk.
Jayden Amos had an RBI double for Mercer, while Aedan Ryhal had a pair of hits.
Ethan Christie took the loss, allowing four runs in two innings on two hits, striking out one and walking two.
FORT LEBOEUF 10, MAPLEWOOD 3
GUYS MILLS, Pa. – Fort LeBoeuf scored four runs in the first inning an six in the sixth to pull away for a 10-3 win over Maplewood.
Brody Myers and Caleb Sayers drove in two runs each for the Bison, while five other Bison had one RBI each.
Fort LeBoeuf had just five hits, but did take advantage of 11 free passes issued by Maplewood pitching.
Myers got the win, allowing one run on three hits in four innings, striking out four and walking five.
Jacob Woge was 1-for-4 with an RBI, while Kyle Jordan had two hits for Maplewood.
SOFTBALL
NORTHERN POTTER 8, OTTO-ELDRED 2
DUKE CENTER, Pa. – Kayla Hyde and Taylor Knowles each drove in a pair of runs to help the resurrected Northern Potter softball team to its first win since 2019, 8-2, at Otto-Eldred.
The Lady Panthers last had a softball program in 2019 and last won a game on May 17 of that year over Smethport.
Hyde was 1-for-4 with a triple and a run scored with Knowles going 2-for-3 with a walk.
Emma Haynes also went 3-for-4 with a run scored for NoPo.
Bailee Olmstead was 2-for-3 with a run scored for Otto-Eldred.
Jaylyn Williammee got the win for Northern Potter going seven innings allowing two earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out eight.
Kate Rhinehart took the loss going seven innings allowing eight runs, four earned, on 11 hits and two walks while striking out six.
