John Bizzak singled twice and drove in a run

Michael Punk was 3 for 4 with a double, homer and 3 RBI's and pitched into the 7th inning

Brad Avenali cracked a clutch, 2-run double in the 5th inning to help cement the win

Following consecutive tough losses to Coudersport, the Kane boys baseball team could easily have packed it in and allowed a good season to go bad. Instead, the baseball Wolves sucked it up and responded with a solid, workmanlike performance in a 7-4 defeat of a good Johnsonburg Rams team.

The Rams were unable to do any damage in the opening frame as Kane pitcher Mike Punk allowed only a harmless single. The Wolves went on the offensive in their half of the opening frame as they plated three runs for an early 3-0 lead. Punk led off the bottom half of the inning with a double. Grant Clyde followed with a single and both moved up on a passed ball. John Bizzak followed with an RBI base hit and he and Clyde both scored on passed balls for Kane's three runs.

Johnsonburg again went quietly in the second inning, as the effective Punk allowed another single and the Wolves went right back to work in the bottom of the inning as Dustin Moran walked, was moved to second on a perfect sacrifice bunt by Robert Kumher, then scored Kane's fourth run on an error. Neither team scored in the third as Punk and the Kane defense kept the Rams bats quiet, but the Wolves put up another tally in the bottom of the fourth when Punk blasted a home run over the left field fence for a 5-0 Kane advantage. The Rams finally got to Punk in the fifth as Holmberg and Benson singled in front of Seth Streich's two out three-run bomb to right center. The Wolves never blinked and got two runs back in the bottom of the inning as John and Tyler Bizzak both singled and Brad Avenali followed with a clutch, two-run double to give the Wolves a 7-3 lead going into the sixth.

With neither team able to generate any offense in the sixth, the Wolves headed into the seventh just three outs from a win. The Rams made it interesting in the seventh as they scored one run then loaded the bases on a walk, a base hit and an error. Grant Clyde, in relief of Punk shut the door at that point as he induced Rams' clean-up hitter Craig Carrow to foul out to catcher Rob Kumher and #5 hitter Dylan Nelson grounded out to Moran to secure the win, 7-4.

Punk turned in a very workmanlike and effective performance on the mound for the Wolves, pitching into the seventh inning for the win. Punk allowed four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. Clyde finished up for Kane allowing one hit, one

 walk and no runs. Losing pitcher Craig Carrow went the distance for Johnsonburg, allowing seven runs on seven hits with six strikeouts.

Punk helped his own cause and led Kane's offense with a single, double and home

run and 3 RBI's. John Bizzak added two singles and an RBI and Brad Avenali came through with a double and 2 RBI's. Grant Clyde and Tyler Bizzak had the Wolves' other two hits, both singles. Seth Streich (homer and single) and Joe Holmberg (two singles) led Johnsonburg.

" We bounced back. It was a good win against a quality team. We had outstanding pitching and catching and Mike worked ahead of the hitters," said Kane head coach Pat Tigani. " 'Burg is better than their record. They're young but they're dangerous and they always want us. Carrow is a tough pitcher, but our hitters did a nice job with him tonight especially Mike and Brad." Tigani closed his remarks by saying, " The loss last night could have had the kids hanging their heads but they came out and played hard. Every win between now and the 12th (seeding day) is important, starting with Northern Potter here on Thursday."