By BOB TROUT, sports correspondent
PRATTSBURGH — Haden Abbott threw a complete game 2-hit shutout to lead Avoca-Prattsburgh past Canisteo-Greenwood/Jasper-Troupsburg, 2-0 on Saturday.
Abbott had six strikeouts and walked two, then helped his cause with two hits and scored a run as A-P improved to 12-5.
“Haden threw a gem, he’s developed a killer curve and nasty slider to go with his fastball and he gets a lot of outs with that,” said Avoca-Prattsburgh coach Dennie Miles. “He’s one of those pitchers you look at and say ‘he’s nothing’ and then you look at your box score and you went 0-for-4.”
The big blow for A-P was a two-out-two strike 2-RBI double by Tucker Gerych that brought in Abbott and Ashton McMahon.
“Tucker Gerych has put in a lot of hard work with the bat and with two strikes, he delivered a huge hit for us again,” Miles said. “He had a home run against Arkport-Canaseraga that was our only run of the game in a win. He has made a big difference in our wins.”
In the seventh, C-G/J-T’s Hunter McCaffery reached on an infield single and after a walk, Abbott was able to get a 6-4-3 double play then got a fly out to Sawyer Devoe in center to end the game and preserve the shutout.
“The defense was so solid all year Pacey Hopkins at shortstop and Jamel Crowder at third put on a clinic today,” Miles said. “They had nine assists today including a double play to snuff out a rally in the seventh.”
Macoy Putnam, Crowder, McMahon, Josiah Stilson all had hits for A-P who play at Hornell Wednesday at 5 p.m.
Colby Cornish threw a solid six innings for C-G/J-T with 10 strikeouts. Maddox Schwartz had the other hit for C-G/J-T.
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