By Jeff Richards

BASEBALL

McConnellsburg 15, Fannett Metal 0

On May 7, the Spartans hosted the Fannett Metal Tigers in a conference game and took control from the first inning onto victory via a shortened four inning game.

Shaffer Earley drove in four runs on two hits to lead the Spartans.  He singled in the first scoring two, walked in the second scoring one, and singled in the fourth scoring one.  The Spartans scored seven runs in the first inning after Earley singled, scoring two runs; Kaden Marpoe singled, scoring one run; Callen Mellott singled, scoring one run; Jett Sipes grounded out, scoring one run; a Jace Fletcher fielder’s choice scored one run; and a Reese Alexander sacrifice fly, scored one run.  In the second inning, Mellott singled to center field; Sipes singled down the left field line; Hoyt Glenn was struck by a pitch; and Earley walked, each scoring one run.  A run was added in the third after Vinny Badalamenti grounded out.

Finn Kuhn got the start and earned the win for the Spartans. He tossed three innings, giving up no earned runs off two hits. The dominant performance also gave Kuhn a new career-high in strikeouts (four) and raised his record to 6-1.  Cole Fletcher debuted to pitch in relief in one inning of shutout ball. The right-hander surrendered one hit, striking out none and walking none.

Nick Naugle took the loss for Fannett Metal. The starting pitcher went one and two-thirds innings, giving up 11 runs on eight hits, striking out one and walking five.  Sawyer Wolf pitched one third inning in relief yielding no hits, no runs, one walk, no strikeouts.  Kristian Koser finished in relief one and one third inning allowing four runs (all earned) on three hits, striking out three and walking three.

The Spartans tallied 11 hits. Mellott went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs and led the team in hits. Marpoe reached base in all four of his plate appearances with three runs, two RBIs, and one double.  Earley went 2-for-3 with four RBIs, two runs, and one stolen base.  Glenn led with three walks, helping the team total nine walks overall. Defensively, the Spartans turned one double play and played an error-free game.

Nick Naugle, Logan Hall, and Noah Naugle each collected one hit for the Tigers.

The Spartans have won eight games this season by over eight runs. The Spartans had a .667 OBP in this latest win, their best of the year, earning back-to-back victories and improving to 12-4 (4-3 ICC-S). Recently, they’ve averaged 10.5 runs per game while allowing just 2.7.  The loss drops the Tigers’ record to 3-14 (2-6 ICC-S).

Next, McConnellsburg will visit Berlin Brothersvalley on May 8 in a cross-conference game at 4:30 p.m.

                1    2    3    4    5    6    7    R       H    E

FNMT    0    0    0    0    x    x     x    0         3    1

MCCN  7    4    1    3    x    x     x    15    11    0

JHBB:  McC 13, FM 2.  McC 18, FM 3

SOFTBALL

McConnellsburg 3, Fannett Metal 11.  The Lady Spartans hosted the Fannett Metal Lady Tigers for a conference game on May 7 and got behind early from a six-run Tiger’s opening inning and remained outpaced.  The Tigers scored three in the fourth, and one each in the fifth and six, contrasting with the Spartans that managed just a run in the first and two in the sixth. The Spartans had six hits, while the Tigers posted 15.  The Spartans’ record is now 5-9 (3-5 ICC-S), while the Tigers move to 4-11 (3-6 ICC-S).

Next, McConnellsburg travels to Berlin Brothersvalley for a cross-conference game on May 7 at 4:30 p.m.

                   1    2    3    4    5    6    7    R    H     E

FNMT       6    0    0    3    1    1    0   11  15    4

MCCN     1    0    0    0    0    2    0     3     6    4

JHSB: McC 22, FM 7.  McC 4, FM 6.