BASEBALL
Chambersburg 3, State College 2: After a loss on Monday, the Trojans got back to their winning ways Wednesday afternoon at Greene Township Park by holding off the Little Lions in a Mid Penn Commonwealth contest, avenging an earlier 1-0 defeat to SC.

Aaron Vasquez

“That was a big win, to come back after we lost Monday,” Chambersburg coach Scott Folmar said. “Ryne Mills gutted it out and got the final out on the last batter he could face (because of the pitch count).”

The Trojans (12-2, 7-2 MPC) scored a run in the bottom of the first when Mills singled, Aaron Vasquez bunted him to second, Brady Truett hit into a fielder’s choice that moved Mills to third, and an error made on a grounder by Ceagan Truett allowed him to score.

Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth, Chambersburg scored twice after Bryce Deneen led off by being hit by a pitch. After an out, he stole second base and had to stay there when Vasquez dumped a pop fly into short center that could not be caught. Both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch.

Brady Truett then lifted a fly ball to center that easily allowed Deneen to race home from third. Vasquez held at second, then took off on the throw. But it was cut off and Vasquez should have been thrown out at third. But the throw was off the mark and Vasquez was able to stroll home for a 3-1 lead.

Folmar said, “That was a big fly ball by Brady. Deneen was going to score, but Vasquez put some pressure on them with his aggressive base running. He got us an extra run that it turned out we needed.”

State College (6-5-1, 4-4-1 MPC) scored a run in the third on Kellen Williams’ single and made it 3-2 on a pinch-hit double by Davontae Hardison in the sixth.

In the top of the seventh, Ryden Walker led off with a double, but Mills bore down and set the Little Lions down on a strikeout, a pop up and a grounder to short, a play in which first baseman Konner McMullen made a nice scoop of Vasquez’s throw.

“The defense again played clean,” Folmar said, “and they made some miscues that helped us. We did not fall behind and that enabled us to play some small ball.

“Ryne was doing really well early in the game and kept his pitch count down, but had to battle through the middle. In the last two innings his pitch count became a factor, but he fought to end the game before he had to come out.”

Mills (5-0) allowed 6 hits, did not walk a batter and fanned 10. Of his 100 pitches, 73 were strikes.

The Trojans next take on local rival Greencastle in an away game Friday afternoon.

SOFTBALL
Chambersburg 8, State College 4: The Trojans had trouble getting to Little Lion pitcher Paige Moriarty early, but scored in each of the final four innings to pull out a MId Penn Commonwealth victory Wednesday afternoon on the road.

Piper Jones

Kylee Perry slugged a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning to give Chambersburg its first lead, at 4-3, and the Trojans followed with 4 runs in the seventh to provide some breathing room.

“Perry’s bomb gave us some juice, and we had our best at-bats late in the game,” Trojan coach Chris Skultety said. “The girls came in a little sluggish, as expected, after a tough loss yesterday (to CD) and a long bus ride. We put some runners on early (7 in the 1st 3 innings), but didn’t take advantage of the opportunities we had.”

Chambersburg (10-3, 7-2 MPC) scored the game’s first run in the top of the fourth when Piper Jones singled, Sanay Jones bunted her to third and Erissa Varner’s bunt single plated the run.

State College (5-4, 3-4 MPC) went ahead 3-1 in the bottom of the inning, scoring on a 2-run double by Moriarty and an error.

The Trojans put up 2 runs to tie it in the fifth, loading the bases on a walk, a dropped third strike and another walk. Kendall Flory’s single and a fielder’s choice by Piper Jones scored the runs.

In the top of the seventh, Flory walked, Piper Jones was hit by a pitch and Sanay Jones sacrificed them up a base. Varner then ripped a triple to right field to plate two runs. Two more runs scored on a wild pitch and a double by Marley Onomastico.

Skultety said, “To the seniors’ credit, they rallied the team when we got down 3-1, and we came right back with two runs to tie it. Hopefully, those late quality at-bats get us going and we start producing like we know we can. It’s always a great win when you travel that far and face a little adversity.”

Issie Slimmer got the win with 5 innings of pitching, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and no walks. Sanay Jones pitched the final 2 innings and gave up 2 hits and a run.

Chambersburg hosts Greencastle in a big local showdown on Friday afternoon at Norlo Park.