YOUTH BASEBALL: OWEGO (BEYER) DROPS 6-4 HEARTBREAKER AT OWEGO LITTLE LEAGUE 12U TOURNAMENT (12 PHOTOS) (2018-07-05)

Tioga County Sports Report
OWEGO — It was a relatively evenly-played contest, but somebody had to win. In the end, Nichols-Tioga (Luther) came up with a trio of late runs to pull out a 6-4 win over Owego (Beyer) in Owego Little League 12U Tournament pool play action Friday evening.

N-T rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, then Shea Bailey recorded three straight strikeouts in the sixth after the Owego leadoff hitter reached on an error.

Both teams received strong performances on the mound, with each team's staff racking up 10Ks. 

Nichols-Tioga mustered five hits and three walks, Owego had four hits and four walks. N-T fielders committed two errors to Owego's one.

An Eli Barnes walk and Andrew Earley triple would give N-T a 1-0 edge in the second, but Owego responded with three runs in the third.

A Matthew Lewis single, Chris Ward walk and Noah Christ triple led to that trio scoring for the 3-1 advantage.

It wouldn't last long as Nichols-Tioga countered to tie the game in its half of the inning. Back-to-back doubles by Bailey and Garrett Godfrey, and a single from James Luther knotted the score at three all.

Owego forged back in front in the fourth on a walk by Sherwood, and base hits from Buchsbaum and Jenkins.

Nichols-Tioga would take advantage of a pair of walks in the fifth, putting Brennan Sindoni and Bailey on base. An unsuccessful fielder's choice off the bat of Godfrey and a passed ball aided the N-T rally, as did a sacrifice fly by Barnes and a single from Earley.

Earley went 2-for-3 while Bailey, Godfrey and Luther had one hit each for N-T.

Christ, Buchsbaum, Jenkins and Matt Lewis had the Owego hits.

The only teams in Pool C currently with two wins, each will play one more game in pool play. Owego (2-1) faces U-E (Fellows) at 11 a.m. Saturday and Nichols-Tioga (2-1) will take on U-E (Ferraro) Sunday at 11 a.m. 

Bracket play begins Sunday afternoon and runs through July 14.

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PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR