By CHRIS BROOKS, sports editor, wellsvillesports.com
CANISTEO — After ending the week falling to the hands of Bolivar-Richburg in a 9-0 shutout at home, the Lions of Wellsville took their talents out on the road in hopes of starting the new week with a rebound with a visit to Canisteo-Greenwood/Jasper-Troupsburg.
The goal was to pick up where they left off after being halted by the blockade the Wolverines provided this past weekend, beginning with an offense that has been striking all chords on the highest level as of late. On Monday, the Lions returned to form with an excellent showing at the plate.
As an added bonus, Jere Havens was ready to deliver on defense.
The Lions hurler was connecting with all facets of his game on the rubber, as he held Canisteo-Greenwood/Jasper-Troupsburg to five hits, going the complete distance behind 10 chairs handed out while the offense in turn, took care of business, as they rolled their way towards rebounding victory in the form of a 9-0 shutout.
“Jere was masterful tonight. He was very efficient, and we talked about our pitchers needing to become more efficient,” said Lions coach Tom Delahunt. “He was around the plate, and he had 10 strikeouts, but he didn’t try to strike anyone out. He let the defense work behind him. He was a true pitcher tonight. When we put the ball in play, we can force the action. Hopefully when you do that, you have runners on base. We had a lot of them on, and when you force the other team, good things are going to happen.”
While Havens was in complete command of his own destiny on the hill, the Lions (4-4) backed him up on offense by starting out of the gate hot with the lead before adding onto it with a two-run third. The bats would cool off for the next two innings before the team put together their best outing of the game — a five-run sixth inning that ultimately saw them pull away for good, led by a pair of RBI hits from Havens, and Cody Costello.
In addition to his pitching, Havens was also one of three Wellsville hitters that recorded a pair of hits, going 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. Alex Green added in two runs, driving in a pair and scoring two himself, while Ty Vogel recorded a pair of hits and an RBI. Costello would score three runs.
Wellsville is right back on the field today back home, as they host a 5 p.m. first pitch against Arkport/Canaseraga.
Wellsville 102 005 1 – 9 9 2
C-G/J-T 000 000 0 – 0 5 11
WLSV – Jere Havens (WP) (CG, 10K), and Ty Vogel.
CGJT – Colby Cornish (LP) (6K, BB), Hunter McCaffery (6) (3K, BB), and Jared Ainsworth.
