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Star photo by Julie Lewis Oneonta High’s Jon Wolfanger slides into second on a stolen base during the fourth inning of a non-league baseball game Tuesday at Oneonta. Sidney second baseman Travis Fusco waits for the throw. The Yellowjackets won, 3-1.

neonta High junior pitcher Lance Ratchford won his first varsity start Tuesday as the Yellowjackets beat visiting Sidney, 3-1, to match their 2005 victory total in their seventh game this season.

Ratchford struck out three and walked none in five innings for OHS (5-2), which won its fifth straight. The Jackets skipped the Section Four Class A Tournament last season after finishing 5-11.

"You don’t know what to expect from someone making his first start," OHS coach Joe Hughes said of Ratchford. "It was good to see him come in and throw strikes. He mixed his fastball and curveball and kept them off ba[an error occurred while processing this directive]lance."

Oneonta’s Devlin Vanderhoof struck out two in a scoreless sixth and Kyle Donnelly struck out the side in the seventh to earn the save for Oneonta, which plays a Southern Tier Athletic Conference game against visiting Whitney Point today.

Oneonta scored two unearned runs in the first inning of Tuesday’s non-league game. Losing pitcher Chase Mott walked OHS leadoff batter Mike Seroka and, two outs later, walked Cody Losie. A successful double-steal put Seroka and Losie at third and second, respectively. Both runners scored when Dan Wood reached first on an infield throwing error.

Mott’s RBI single off Ratchford in the third cut Sidney’s deficit to 2-1, but OHS regained a two-run advantage when Lane Potter drove in Jon Wolfanger with a two-out double to center in the fourth.

"We’ve been putting all three phases of the game together," said Hughes, whose team committed no errors.

P.J. McMullen had two hits for OHS, as did Travis Fusco for the Warriors, who advanced to the Section Four Class B title game last season.

ONEONTA 3, SIDNEY 1

Sidney 001 000 0 — 1 6 2

Oneonta 200 100 x — 3 6 0

Chase Mott (L) and Brett Pendorf. Lance Ratchford (W,1-0), Devlin Vanderhoof (6), Kyle Donnelly (7,S) and Cody Losie. 2B — Lane Potter (O).

Derrick Stupski highlighted Chenango Valley’s three-run second inning with a two-run double as Unatego dropped a non-league game on the road.

Jim Simonds (1-2) struck out six, walked one in a six hitter for Unatego (4-2), which scored in the first and third innings.

Simonds and Alex Hendrickson had two hits apiece for the Spartans, who had eight hits and left six runners on base.

"We played really well," Unatego coach Frank Microni said. "I was very happy. We hit well. Our outs were hard outs. We just didn’t get runners in."

The Spartans visit Susquehanna Valley for a non-league game at 4 p.m. Thursday.

CHENANGO VALLEY 3, UNATEGO 2

Unatego 101 000 0 — 2 8 2

Chenango Valley 030 000 0 — 3 6 2

Jim Simonds (L,1-2) and Alex Hendrickson, Jeff Hoke (7). John Moody (W), Derrick Stupski (4,S) and Bryce Nugent. 2B — Jim Simonds (U), Joe Innes (U), Derek Stupski (C), Vince Palmieri (C), John Moody (C).

Ryan Laymon, the 2005 Daily Star Player of the Year, capped a four-run fourth inning with a two-run homer to lead Edmeston to a non-league road victory.

Laymon’s brother Matt struck out eight and allowed two hits in five innings for the victory.

David Palmatier doubled and Craig Stanton drove in two runs for the Panthers (4-0), who host Laurens on Monday.

Afton (1-4) visits Sidney today.

EDMESTON 9, AFTON 0

Edmeston 300 410 1 — 9 9 1

Afton 000 000 0 — 0 3 5

Matt Laymon (W), Jordan Williams (6), Ryan Laymon (7) and Alex Stevens. Phil Sanford (L,0-2), Karl Rogler (6) and Trevor Beames. 2B — David Palmatier (E), Aaron Berkeley (A). HR — Ryan Laymon (E).