By Jeff Richards

BOYS BASEBALL

McConnellsburg 5, Bedford 3.  On April 13, the Spartans took the non-conference game in dramatic fashion, with a 5-3 walk-off victory over the visiting Bedford Bisons. The game was tied at three in the bottom of the seventh when senior catcher Reese Alexander homered on a second pitch fast ball over the right field, scoring two runs.

Alexander delivered an outstanding performance at the plate firing off three home runs in the second, sixth and seventh innings, along with four RBIs while going 3-for-4. Those three homers mark a new career-high and set a single-game record. Jett Sipes also made a difference by going 2-for-3 with one double and one RBI.

The Spartans got on the board in the bottom of the second inning after Alexander homered to right field, and Sipes doubled down the left field line, each scoring one run. Finn Kuhn, pinch running for Kaden Marpoe after his double, scored on Sipes’s hit.

The Bisons captured the lead, 3-2, in the top of the third after Joey Harclerode singled, Jonah Topper singled, and Aspen Anderson singled to center field, each scoring one run.

In the sixth, Alexander homered on a first pitch fastball to right field to tie the game at three.  In the seventh, Shaffer Earley singled on the 102nd final pitch of starter Anderson.  Then relief pitcher Gaston Watkins took the mound and threw the first pitch ball, then threw a strike that Alexander sent over the fence to end the game.

Marpoe (1-1) claimed the victory for the Spartans and pitched all seven innings. He allowed three earned runs on seven hits, recorded four strikeouts, and issued two walks.

Anderson started for Bedford, allowing seven hits and four runs in 6.2 innings, with five strikeouts and no walks. Gaston Watkins relieved, gave up a run on one hit to Alexander, and took the loss.

Anderson went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Bisons in hits. Topper, Joey Harclerode, and Anderson each drove in one run.

Next up, the Spartans (6-2, 1-1 ICC-S) travel to Fannett Metal for a conference game on April 14 at 4:30 pm.

…………1    2    3    4    5    6    7    R    H    E

BDFR    0    0    3    0    0    0    0    3    7     1

MCCN  0    2    0    0    0    1    2    5    8     1