KANE — Despite not so ideal field conditions due to a constant drizzle and a starting pitcher that only lasted 2 1/3 innings, the Golden Tide was able to pick up its 13th win on the season against four losses.
Garrett LaBorde took to the hill in relief of starter Sam Gardner in the third inning with the score knotted at four and didn’t allow a run the rest of the way to pick up his second win in the past week. His first win was the 6-0 whitewashing of Harmony where LaBorde notched 17 strikeouts.
LaBorde entered the game with the bases full of Wolves and only one out. Two batters and two strikeouts later the Wolves were finished for the inning and the day.
The Tide had jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first when Jed Greslick, who had singled and advanced to third base on an error and passed ball, scored on a ground out by Wes McGary. Then with two outs Brett Sutika walked and was doubled home by Shane Hoover. Shae Best was also clutch by delivering the second two-out hit of the inning to plate Hoover.
Kane managed a run off of Gardner in the bottom of the second inning to temporarily cut the Tide lead to two runs, 3-1. The Tide then tallied a solo run on one swing of the bat by Sam Gardner in the third to get back to the three-run cushion they had established in the first inning.
Curwensville’s lead was short-lived however as Kane scored three runs to tie the score at 4-4 and had the bases juiced to set the stage for LaBorde’s relief heroics.
The Tide answered right back in the top of the fourth when Greslick singled home Boone McGary, who had reached base on one of the Wolves’ two errors on the day.
The top of the sixth inning brought more clutch hitting and two insurance runs that the Tide eventually did not need. With two outs Wes McGary worked Kane pitcher Evan Depto for one of his six walks and was then doubled home by hot hitter Gardner. Sutika continued Curwensville’s success with two outs by singling home Gardner with the Tide’s seventh and final run.
The win was the Tide’s sixth consecutive, their last loss a 10-9 squeaker on the road at Ridgway back on May 4.
The Tide is scheduled to play at West Branch on Tuesday and host Elk County Catholic on Wednesday before learning who their post season opponent will be. The District 9 A tourney starts the week of May 24.
CURWENSVILLE — 7
Jed Greslick ss 4121, Wes McGary cf-lf 3101, Sam Gardner p-cf 3222, Brett Sutika 2b 2111, Shane Hoover 3b 3111, Shae Best lf-rf 3011, Jonathan Michaels c 4010, Alex Holland cr 0000, Boone McGary 1b 41000, Garrett LaBorde rf-p 3000, TOTALS 29 AB, 7 R, 8 H, 7 RBI
KANE — 4
Logan Depto cf 4000, Dave Swanson ss 3021, Mike Johnson rf 4000, Evan Depto p 4120, Rob Kuhmar c 4110, Mike Rocjancic 3b 3210, Ryan Bizzak lf 3022, Josh Nelson 1b 1000, Wil Keesler 2b 2000, TOTALS 28 AB, 4 R, 8 H, 3 RBI
SCORE BY INNINGS
Curwensville 301 102 0 7 8 1
Kane 013 000 0 4 8 2
Errors – B McGary; Rocjancic – 2. DP – Curwensville – 1. LOB Curwensville – 6; Kane – 9. 2B – Gardner, Hoover; Rocjancic. HR – Gardner (1, solo, 3rd).
PITCHING
Curwensville – Gardner 2.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 2 K
LaBorde 4.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Kane – E Depto 7 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 6 BB, 9 K
WP – LaBorde (2-0), LP – Depto