By Jeff Richards

BASEBALL

McConnellsburg 5, Berlin Brothersvalley 3.  On May 8 the Spartans visited the Berlin Brothersvalley Mountaineers for a cross-conference game and as they won big on Thursday (by 15), they proved they could win the close, nail-biter ones too, with a three-game win streak.

Levi Leonard’s RBI single in the bottom of the first put Berlin on the board. McConnellsburg pulled ahead 3-1 in the fifth on back-to-back doubles by Reese Alexander and Shaffer Earley, driving in Gavin DeShong and Alexander. Berlin answered in the fifth to tie it, using a Clark double and a Brinton single. Hoyt Glenn’s RBI single in the sixth scored Tucker Hedge to give the Spartans a 4-3 edge, and in the seventh Ben Sattazahn singled and later scored on an Alexander single for an insurance run.

Sattazahn stepped on the bump first for the Spartans. The senior righty allowed 10 hits and three runs over five innings, striking out four and walking none. Glenn earned the win as the reliever surrendered zero hits and zero runs over two innings, striking out one and walking one.  Notably Glenn hasn’t given up more than one walk in four consecutive appearances.

Nick Koval started for Berlin and took the loss.  He allowed 10 hits and four runs over six innings, striking out eight and walking one.  Joshua Brinton pitched one inning in relief, surrendering one run on two hits, striking out one and walking none.

McConnellsburg totaled 12 hits, with Sattazahn, Glenn, DeShong, and Earley each recording two. Alexander finished 1-for-4 with a run and a double and paced the Spartans with two RBIs. Glenn went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, a run, and an RBI, while Earley was 2-for-4 with a stolen base, a double, and an RBI. That strong performance has followed with at least ten hits in three consecutive contests and with some hitting muscle as they’ve averaged 8.8 runs per game this season.  Sattazahn and Glenn each stole multiple bases as McConnellsburg swiped six overall. Defensively, the Spartans turned one double play and did not commit an error.

Berlin accumulated 10 hits with Cohen Clark, Levi Leonard, and Logan Karwatsky each collected two.  Clark, Leonard, and Brinton each drove in one run.

McConnellsburg’s record now sits at 13-4 (5-3 ICC-S) and Berlin is 10-8 (4-3 ICC-W).

At the previous home game, McConnellsburg recognized its graduating seniors: Reese Alexander, Shaffer Earley, Gavin DeShong, Ben Sattazahn, and Kade Gress. Thank you, gentlemen, for your dedication and support of Spartan athletics.

McConnellsburg visits Tussey Mountain for a cross-conference game on May 11 at 4:30 p.m. The Spartans are 9-1 against Tussey since April 2021 and will look for payback after last May’s first-round District 5 playoff loss. McConnellsburg is hitting .315 this season, compared with Tussey Mountain’s .232.

                 1    2    3    4    5    6    7    R    H     E

MCCN   0    0    0    0    3    1    1    5    12    0

BRLN     1    0    0    0    2    0     0    3    10    1

JHBB:  McC 10, BBV 4

SOFTBALL

McConnellsburg 0, Berlin Brothersvalley 16. The Lady Spartans visited the Berlin Brothersvalley Lady Mountaineers for a cross-conference game on May 8 and got behind from the start and were shutout and ended in three innings by mercy rule.  Spartan Coach Dana Winters reflected that today wasn’t our day. Losing by the mercy rule early hurts, but it’s a learning experience. We had a tough time finding our rhythm, but I’m proud of the effort to keep fighting until the last out was called. The Spartans’ record is now 5-10 (3-5 ICC-S), while the Mountaineers at 17-2 (7-0 ICC-W) continue to lead the D5 Class A league.

                 1    2    3    4    5   6    7    R    H    E

MCCN   0    0    0    x    x    x    x     0    1      0

BRBV      4   12  x    x    x    x    x    16   12   0

Next, McConnellsburg travels to Tussey Mountain for a cross-conference game on May 11 at 4:30 p.m.

JHSB: McC 17, BVV 1 (3 innings).