LISTER OUTDUELS BEEMAN; ATHENS EDGES WAVERLY, 1-

By: Tim Birney | Waverly Athletics | April 30, 2022 | Photo courtesy Christina Kreykenbohm

ATHENS — Athens scored a run in the bottom of the first, and junior Mason Lister made it stand up in a 1-0 win over Waverly in non-league baseball action here Saturday morning in the “Battle at the Border.”

“I feel like we were ready to play today,” said Athens coach Charlie Havens. “The last couple games, it feels like things are coming together.

“Getting Kaden Setzer back has kind of changed the mentality we have,” noted Havens. “It’s pretty interesting to be honest.”

Lister struck out eight and walked two in a complete-game four-hitter to earn the win.

Waverly junior Ty Beeman was the tough-luck loser, allowing one run on two hits in six innings, while striking out four and walking two. He allowed just one hit after the first inning.

“Mason (Lister) pitched a great game,” said Havens. “He worked really fast, he pounded the zone, and he really dominated. It was a really strong performance.”

“(Mason) Lister did a nice job,” said Waverly coach Kyle McDuffee. “He knew his zone … he attacked us and pounded the zone.

“Ty (Beeman) did the same thing,” noted McDuffee. “He pitched a great game.

“We had a bad first inning, and (Athens) took advantage of it,” added McDuffee. “They scored that first run, and we just couldn’t catch them.”

The Wildcats have struggled defensively at times this season — committing 28 errors ion the season, but only had one miscue behind Lister in the win.

“We made all the plays today,” said Havens. “We played good defense.”

With one out in the top of the first inning, junior Caleb NIchols was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a balk, and scored on an groundball RBI single up the middle by junior Cameron Sullivan.

The Wolverines loaded the bases in the top of the second inning, but left the bases jammed. Senior Caden Hollywood walked to lead off the frame, senior Brennan Traub singled with one out, and junior Isaiah Bretz was hit by a pitch with two outs to load the bases. Lister escaped the jam with a strikeout.

The Wildcats threatened in the home half of the second on a two-out walk to junior Carson Smith, and a double by senior Karter Rude, but Beeman ended the threat with a strikeout.

Athens improved to 9-5 with the win, while Waverly fell to 9-5.