By Jeff Richards 

BOYS BASEBALL

McConnellsburg 16 Grace Academy 2.  The Spartans visited Grace Academy for a non-conference game on March 29^th and easily dispatched the Knights to conclusively come to a 16-2 victory to improve to 2-2 overall.

The Spartans got on the board in the first inning when Reese Alexander hit a sacrifice fly, allowing Ben Sattazahn to score after he singled and stole second base to get into scoring position. The Spartans added one run in the third after Sattazahn singled to center field scoring a speedy Hoyt Glenn from first base.

The Spartans added three runs in the fourth inning when Kade Gress, Vinny Badalamenti and Tucker Hedge scored from hits by Kohen Hall, Hedge, Glenn, and Shafer Earley, and walks to Gress, and Jace Fletcher.  In the fifth inning, four runs were added by Gress, Gavin DeShong, Fletcher and Glenn on hits by Gress and Glenn and walks to DeShong and Fletcher. 

The game opened big in the sixth inning when the Spartans scored seven runs on five hits.  Gress grounded out, scoring one run (Earley).  Finn Kuhn walked.  Hall doubled, scoring Kuhn.  Hedge singled, scoring Hall.  Glenn drew a walk.  Hedge scored on a passed ball and Earley singled on a line drive down third base line to score three runs (Glenn, Sattazahn, and Teddy Group).

Kohen Hall earned the win for the Spartans. The senior righty starter surrendered two hits and two runs (zero earned) over four and two-thirds innings, striking out seven and walking four.  Hoyt Glenn, in his first 2025 appearance, tossed one and one-third innings of zero-run ball in relief.  The sophomore righty pitcher gave up one hit, striking out four and walking none.

Lawson Aikens took the loss for Grace Academy. The starting pitcher went three and two-thirds innings, surrendering five runs (four earned) on six hits, striking out three and walking three.  Denton Bible pitched in relief and yielded nine runs (eight earned) on five hits, striking out none and walking four.  Aiden Minor completed the relief round going one third inning and yielding two runs (two earned) on two hits, striking out none and walking two.

The Spartans had 13 hits in the game. Hoyt Glenn went 2-for-4 and led with three RBIs. The team got a big performance out of Sattazahn, who scored two runs and stole two bases, with two hits, going 2-for-4.  Gress, and Hedge also each scored two runs. Earley, making a difference, led with three hits in four at bats, while scoring a run.  Hall and Hedge also each collected two hits.  Fletcher earned three walks, contributing to the team’s total of nine walks.  The team totaled six stolen bases. Glenn has stolen at least one base in each of his last three games.

Jaeden Peterson went 1-for-2 with a double and led the Knights with two runs batted in.  Hudson Walls, Conner Earley, and Andrew Ingram also each collected one hit for Grace Academy.

               1    2    3    4    5    6    7    R    H    E

MCCN    1    0    1    3    4    7    X   16  13   1

GRCC     0    0    0    0    2    0    X     2    3   4

Next up:  McConnellsburg will be playing at home against Hancock at 6:00 p.m. on Monday.