​JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Martella’s Pharmacy seized the early momentum Friday in Johnstown Collegiate Baseball League action at Sargent’s Stadium at the Point, using a brisk two-inning burst to build a lead they would not relinquish in a 10-5 victory over The O. The scene seemed loud with energy, but the tone remained rooted in patience and disciplined at-bats as Martella’s Pharmacy opened with a four-run first and followed with five more in the second.
“We were patient at the plate,” Martella’s Pharmacy manager Kerry Pfeil said. “We didn’t chase early in counts and we worked the counts. When the opportunities presented themselves, we drove the baseball and got players on base.”
The opening frame started with a bang as Cainen Atherton lined a ball off the fence in right field for a triple, sprinting home on a wild pitch. Ben Ryan earned a walk and later scored on a double steal after Ethan Shank drew a throw to second. Shank then crossed home on Graydon Gillott’s arc over the wall in left field, a homer that followed Atherton’s earlier event and helped set the tone. “He’s hit some balls off the screen this year,” Pfeil remarked of Atherton, noting that maximizing contact, even when it’s not a home run, can energize the lineup. “Anytime you connect for a homer with your 6-7-8-9 hitters, it can spark the order.”
The O did have a chance to answer in the bottom of the first, as their first four batters collected hits, but they only managed one run when Jake Waddell drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in Andy Retassie. The visiting team continued to push for offense, but The O’s timing at the plate with runners in scoring position remained a challenge, a recurring theme the club’s staff acknowledged afterward.
“This has been our challenge all year,” The O assistant coach Tim Rubal said. “We can get guys on base, but driving them in when there are runners on is something we need to improve. Tonight was another example, and we hope to adjust moving forward.”
The turning point came in the second inning, when Martella’s Pharmacy expanded their lead. Ryan singled to bring Colby Rearick home, and Lucas Oleska followed with a sharp double to left, bringing Atherton home. Shank contributed with a two-run triple to deep center before crossing home on Gillott’s RBI single to right. The five-spot in the second inning, coupled with the early outburst, effectively put The O in a position that would be difficult to overcome.
In total, Martella’s Pharmacy sent 10 batters to the plate in the second, seizing control of the game and adding a run apiece on two hits in the remaining frames. Colt Hagans came on in relief and worked three innings, allowing a single earned run on two hits while striking out a few batters to keep their pace in check.
As the game wore on, Martella’s Pharmacy maintained its composure, spreading the offense across multiple players and keeping a steady tempo from the mound. The victory extended the team’s early-season momentum and showcased a balanced approach: aggressive execution with timely hitting, coupled with disciplined plate appearances that frustrated The O’s attempts to mount a comeback.
Photographs from the game captured the key moments: Atherton’s early triple and speed on the basepaths; Shank’s multi-RBI contribution including the pivotal triple in the second; Gillott’s left-field homer that energized the lineup, and rearward plays by Martella’s Pharmacy in defense and baserunning that underscored the team’s overall discipline. The result was a 10-5 Martella’s Pharmacy win, a performance that reflected the club’s focus on patient hitting and timely power.