Avoca-Prattsburgh’s Ashton McMahon dives back into the base. Photo by Cyndi Abbott
PRATTSBURGH — The Avoca-Prattsburgh and Arkport-Canaseraga baseball teams played three games this season. The total score after 21 innings was AP 4, A-C 3.
The hits were equal, the pitching was exceptional.
Wednesday in Prattsburgh was no different. Haden Abbott for A-P and Logan Hoyt for A-C battled again with A-P coming out on top, 2-1.
No. 2 Avoca-Prattsburgh (15-6) will move on to host No. 3 Naples (12-6) on Friday.
“Pitching and defense and timely hitting was the key. We had hardly any hits, but Ashton McMahon provided a huge one,” said Avoca-Prattsburgh coach Dennie Miles. “Jamel Crowder came in to start the seventh inning and closed the door after six strong innings from Haden Abbott, who is not 6-1 on the season. Jamel gives you a different look and throws hard. But our defense was the difference.”
In the bottom of the second, Crowder led off with a double and after a walk to Haden Abbott, senior Ashton McMahon crushed a double to the fence for a 2-RBI shot which were all the runs the defense needed.
Abbott struck out seven including the side in the third and did not walk a batter. Crowder pitched a scoreless seventh with a strikeout and no walks for the save.
Chris Abbott had a hit and stolen base for A-P and Josiah Stilson stole a base. On defense, shortstop Pacey Hopkins made several outstanding plays while second baseman Evan Campbell made a big play off a line drive up the middle that went off the glove of the pitcher and also barehanded a ground ball to throw a runner out by half a step.
Logan Hoyt went five innings with eight strikeouts, then Micah Marvin threw two innings with 3K’s. At the plate for A-C, Hoyt was 3-for-4 with two doubles while Ki Steiner (run), Joe Bausch and Nate Morey singled and Phil Chamberlain reached base.
Arkport-Canaseraga 000 100 0 — 1 6 0
Avoca-Prattsburgh 020 000 X — 2 4 1
Logan Hoyt (8K, BB), Micah Marvin (5) (3K, BB) and Bryson Jones
Haden Abbott (7K, 0BB), Jamel Crowder (7) (K, 0BB) and Ashton McMahon
