BASEBALL: Thursday's roundup, McConnellsburg rallies for extra-inning win over Southern Huntingdon

THREE SPRINGS >> McConnellsburg played from behind for almost the entire baseball game Thursday afternoon against Southern Huntingdon.

But a four-run rally in the top of the seventh inning tied the game 7-7 and a run in the top of the eighth – plus a fortunate defensive play in the bottom of the inning – enabled the Spartans to pull out an 8-7 victory in a Sideling Hill/Inter-County Conference tussle.

"It's a real nice win," McConnellsburg coach Brian Ramsey said. "They only had three (league losses) before today and they got up on us early."

The Rockets (15-5, 12-4 SHL, 11-3 ICC) scored five runs in the second inning to lead 6-1. But Chase Novak came on in relief and shut them down on only one unearned run for the final 6 2/3 innings. He struck out two, walked two and allowed six hits.

The Spartans (14-3, 12-3 SHL, 12-2 ICC) tied the game in the seventh, with Garrison Crouse (2-for-2) coming through in the clutch with a two-run single to make it 7-7.

In the eighth, JT Barnard was hit by a pitch, Logan Little singled and both runners moved up on a balk. After two popups, Southern Huntingdon gave Quintin Miller (2-for-4) an intentional pass, then Colton Strait spoiled that strategy by lining a base hit over the second baseman's head.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Rockets' Quinton Whitsel singled, stole second and went to third on a dropped third strike. Ramsey brought the McConnellsburg infield in and Josh Welch hit a line drive toward second baseman Strait, who caught it just off the ground and threw to third to double the runner off and end the game.

Ramsey said, "Chase came in and threw a really nice game, getting them to put the ball in play. We had the bases loaded three times and didn't score, but we finally capitalized in the seventh. And then Colton got the big hit."

McConnellsburg 8 Southern Huntingdon 7 (8)

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W — Chase Novak (3-0); L — Christian Cornelius.

2B — (M) Garrison Crouse, (SH) Quinton Whitsel; SB — (M) Quintin Miller, Ryan Koontz, (SH) Whitsel 2, Billy Thomas.

BOILING SPRINGS 9, GREENCASTLE 4 >> Greencastle-Antrim got its bats going, but so did Boiling Springs, and the Bubblers made their hits count in a Mid Penn Colonial Division game.

"I honestly don't know what to do with them offensively," Blue Devil coach Eric Shaner said. "We've been hitting the ball hard, but sometimes it's right at people, and we're not scoring runs. For instance, when we started coming back, Shawn Keller smoked one that the centerfielder never even had to move for. It's a shame, because it was a great hit."

Greencastle (10-8, 6-4 MPC) totaled 10 hits, but the Bubblers managed 13. In the top of the fourth, Boiling Springs took a big lead by scoring eight runs in the inning. The Bubblers had three straight singles, then the Blue Devils walked a pair. Boiling Springs followed with another single and a bases-loaded triple from Hunter Goshorn.

For the Blue Devils, Kurt Hansen, Quin Ambeault and Austin Branchman all finished with a pair of hits, and Derek Measell had two RBIs.

Boiling Springs 9, Greencastle 4

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W — Dakota Quigley; L — Spencer Meyers (0-3).

2B — (BS) Nick Rosario, (GA) Quin Ambeault; 3B — (BS) Hunter Goshorn, (GA) Austin Branchman; SB — (BS) Hunter Breon, (GA) Branchman.

WAYNESBORO 8, BIG SPRING 0 >> Kyle Hoffman fashioned a one-hitter and Waynesboro put up 15 hits to hand Big Spring a Mid Penn Colonial Division defeat.

Hoffman struck out only one, but walked only two.

"That's back-to-back one-hit games for Kyle," Indian coach Greg Chandler said. "He was injured early in the season, and again in the middle, but he threw a nice game. He'd only thrown 56 pitches through six innings and ended up with 76. It's nice to see a sophomore do that."

For Waynesboro (9-7, 6-4 MPC), which has won three straight, Austin Handshew had three hits, and Cody Cline, Sawyer Duffey (2 RBIs), Francesco Maya, Todd Riddell and Brett McDannell each had two hits.

Waynesboro 8, Big Spring 0

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W — Kyle Hoffman (2-2); L — Keefer.

2B — (W) Todd Riddell, Brett McDannell; SB — (W) Zach Stoltz.

FORBES ROAD 3, CHESTNUT RIDGE 1 >> Forbes Road ended a five-game losing streak by handing Chestnut Ridge a Sideling Hill League defeat.

Matt Brown hurled a fine game for the Cardinals (4-13, 4-12 SHL), limiting the Lions to six hits, striking out two and walking only one.

"He probably pitched his best game, and it's one of the best defensive games (no errors) we played, too," Forbes Road coach Randy Gelvin said. "Brown kept them offstride with his breaking ball, and we caught a couple of breaks. We could have hit better, but their guy was decent, too."

Brock Broadwater and Aaron Schepis each singled in a run for the Cardinals and the third run scored on an error.

Forbes Road 3, Chestnut Ridge 1

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W — Brown (2-3); L — Stultz.

2B — (CR) Guenther.

TUSSEY MOUNTAIN 18, FANNETT-METAL 3 >> Fannett-Metal jumped out with three runs in the top of the first inning, but couldn't keep it up against Tussey Mountain in a three-inning Sideling Hill/Inter-County Conference loss.

"We started out with a three-run first inning where we capitalized on their fielding errors," Tiger coach Kory Miller said. "Unfortunately, we gave up seven runs by making our own errors in the bottom half of the inning and quit hitting the ball after the first."

F-M (1-18, 0-15 SHL, 0-13 ICC) managed just three hits. Taylor Miller finished with a double and a stolen base.

Tussey Mountain 18 Fannett-Metal 3 (3)

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W — Leonard; L — Dalton Friese (0-2).

2B — (FM) Taylor Miller; SB — (FM) Miller, Cole Funk.