The Official Website of The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association - District IV
Hornets Walk Off Over Athens In Extra Innings
By: Ed Weaver | PIAA District IV | May 12, 2026 | Photo courtesy Matt Stevens
Wellsboro defeated Athens in walk off fashion Monday afternoon, scoring a 6-5 win in 11-innings as they resumed their game from April 21.
The game picked up in the top of the 11th inning, tied at 4-all, when it was suspended due to darkness back in April. Athens loaded the bases early and scored the go-ahead run as Connor Davidson hit a sac fly to right field to score Brendan Cooke. Junior Max Mascho then worked his way out of the inning on back-to-back strikeouts.
Freshman Gage Baltzley led off the bottom half of the inning with a base hit, then stole 2nd to move into scoring position. Freshman Maddon Mascho, pinch hitting for sophomore Reed Richardson, and sophomore Griffin Morral drew back-to-back walks to load the bases for sophomore Gabe Cuneo. Cuneo drew a walk to score Baltzley to tie the game, then senior Marek Mascho drew another walk, scoring Richardson, to close it out.
"We dug ourselves a little hole there in the top of the 11th but we limited the damage, which was an important part, so only needing one going into the bottom of the inning set us up," head coach Kyle Smith said. "Gage stole 2nd, advanced to 3rd, and then for Maddon to come in during a pinch-hit scenario in the 9 spot was key. The at bats that Griffin and Gabe took were exactly what we needed in that moment. They didn't chase, they didn't try to do too much, they didn't try to be heroes, then Marek was the kid we wanted up in that scenario, regardless of the outcome. He gave us a quality at bat."
Earlier in the game the Hornets found themselves in a 2-0 hole after the Wildcats scored twice in the top of the 4th. They later added 2 more runs in the top of the third to take a 4-0. Wellsboro cut the Wildcats' lead down to 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth when junior Marek Mascho, Coen Tennis, & Max Mascho all scored. Wellsboro later tied the game up in the bottom of the 7th on a Marek Mascho home run.
Marek Mascho led Wellsboro at the plate, finishing 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs, a home run and 2 runs scored. Tennis (1-for-4), senior Cameron Owlett (1-for-4), and Baltzley (1-for-4, RBI) made up the rest of the Hornets' 5 hits.
Max Mascho earned the win, allowing just 2 runs on 2 hits with 3 walks and 8 strikeouts in 5 innings of work. Junior Syler Pietrzyk also threw 5 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits with 4 walks and 5 strikeouts. Baltzley also threw an inning, allowing 1 run on 2 walks and 3 strikeouts.
Cooke suffered the loss for the Wildcats, allowing 2 runs on 1 hit with 4 walks and a strikeout in the 11th. Brady Flynn led Athens at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with a run scored.
"Knowing this game was still lingering out there kept us focused," Smith pointed out. "If we continue to win and if this breaks our way and sets itself up to become co-champs, or outright champs, it was always in the back of our mind. It wasn't something we discussed at length because we try to take one day, and one game at a time, and fortunately we were able to do that and come out on top. I feel really happy for the kids and I'm really proud of their effort in the season they've put together so far."
Wellsboro improves the 16-2 overall, 14-1 in the NTL Large School Division, and clinches at least a share of the Large School Division championship. The win also catapults the Hornets into 1st place, over Mount Carmel (who suffered a 10-0 loss to Southern Columbia) in the District IV Class 3A standings.
Wellsboro has one more regular season game remaining on the schedule. They head to Hughesville this afternoon.
About the Author
Ed Weaver is the founder and owner of Circle W Sports, a Pennsylvania-based digital media and technology company specializing in athletic website development.
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