Haverling scored its 16th win in a row Wednesday in the Section V, Class B1 semifinals, but Hornell didn’t make it easy.
Trailing 3-0 in the top of the seventh inning, Hornell loaded the bases and brought the go-ahead runner to the plate.
Bath starter Gage Thomas slammed the door with a strikeout to end the Hornell threat and the game, however, sending the Rams on to Saturday’s championship game against a familiar foe.
Thomas threw a complete game shutout with nine strikeouts, one walk and just four hits allowed over 96 pitches (66 strikes).
Julian King also fired a four-hitter in a stellar pitching performance for Hornell, striking out three with three walks. Nick Gray and Alfie Whiteley both had a hit for Hornell, while Trevor Buchanon led the offense with a pair of hits and Nash Adams worked a walk for the fifth-seeded Red Raiders.
Thomas helped his cause with two hits, two runs scored, a double and an RBI for the top-seeded Rams, who improved to 19-3. Dylan Wenban (run) and Dayton Orlowske (RBI) both added a hit apiece for the Rams.
Haverling is no stranger to its opponent in the finals on Saturday. No. 3 seeded Wayland Cohocton edged No. 10 Aquinas, 7-5, on Wednesday to set up an all-Livingston County championship game.
In Class B2, meanwhile, No. 2 Wellsville cruised past No. 6 Bolivar-Richburg/Cuba-Rushford in Wednesday’s semifinal contest. The Lions punched their ticket to the finals in six innings, posting an 11-1 home victory.
Wellsville advances to face No. 4 East Rochester in Saturday’s B2 championship game. East Rochester knocked out top-seeded Sodus, 10-9.
In the Class D bracket, No. 1 Arkport-Canaseraga earned a return trip to the Section V finals with a tight 2-1 win over No. 5 Keshequa. Arkport-Canaseraga will now meet No. 2 Fillmore in Saturday’s championship game. Fillmore defeated No. 3 Elba Wednesday at Houghton College, 9-3.
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Way-Co, Wellsville, Bath, A-C, Fillmore in Section V baseball finals
Reporting by Staff report, Hornell Evening Tribune / The Evening Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
