By TODD REED
News Leader Sports Editor
Malvern defeated Newcomerstown 6-4 and Tusky Central 4-1 to complete the first half of the Inter-Valley Conference schedule undefeated at 8-0.
Unfortunately, the Hornets suffered their first league loss, opening the second half with a 10-2 defeat at the hands of Sandy Valley.
The boys (13-2, 8-1) were to face Garaway on April 28 and Hiland on April 29, before hosting Conotton Valley today (May 1). Malvern will host Ridgewood on Monday, May 5, and travel to Strasburg on Tuesday, May 6.
Malvern 6
Newcomerstown 4
Trailing 6-1, the Trojans scored three runs in the top of the seventh and had two runners on with two outs.
Sean Kettering, who had pitched brilliantly for six innings, induced a ground out to shortstop Tyler Tucci, who touched second base for the final out.
Kettering allowed four earned runs on seven hits as he improved to 4-0. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.
Doug Wood smacked his first home run of the season, drove in two runs and scored twice. Julian Guiao singled twice and had two RBIs, Brady Sickles had two singles and an RBI, Tyler Tucci had two hits and Vince Larson scored twice.
"This was a big win," stated Head Coach Dennis Tucci. "Sean was masterful for six innings. He struggled in the seventh, but we finally got that 21st out. Wood and Guiao had big games. We also had a great game with our gloves."
Malvern 4
Tusky Central 1
Larson (4-0) struck out nine as he went the distance, giving up no earned runs on four hits.
Offensively, T. Tucci tripled and scored two runs, Kettering had two singles and Zak Kapron doubled and scored a run.
"We didn't hit well, but we were able to scratch out four runs," noted Coach Tucci. "We hit them for two runs in the third with RBI hits from Jesse Byrd and Sean Kettering. Tyler hustled a triple to score an insurance run in the seventh.
"Vince has pitched some good games for the Hornets, but this might have been his best. He gave up just one unearned run. Tusky Central followed up this outing by scoring 12 runs versus Hiland. Vince completely shut down a hot-hitting team."
Sandy Valley 10
Malvern 2
"We had a rough night," commented Coach Tucci on his team's first loss in league play. "Jesse wasn't his best, but we lost this game with our bats. Jesse gave up three walks and one hit batter in the first five innings, and they all scored.
"We didn't hit many baseballs hard. We couldn't put together very many good at bats. We have to regroup, with Garaway and Hiland waiting next week."
Byrd allowed seven earned in five and 1/3 innings. Nate Harry gave up three runs in 1 and 2/3 innings.
Byrd's single was Malvern's only hit. T. Tucci walked three times and scored a run.
treed@alliancelink.com