By Jeff Richards

BOYS BASEBALL

McConnellsburg 4, Shalom Christian 5.  Even though the Spartans collected nine hits to Shalom Christian Academy Flames’ seven, they still fell 5-4 on May 12 to the host in a non-league game.

The Flames got on the board in the bottom of the second inning after Wade Timmons walked, and the Spartans committed an error, each scoring one run.  The Spartans tied the game in the top of the third from a double by Jett Sipes, and a single by Hoyt Glenn.  In the bottom of the third Carter Defenderfer homered, scoring two runs, to give the Flames the lead, 4-2.  The Flames added a run in the fourth with a Ethan Brechbill single.  In the top of the seventh, the in a two-out rally, the bases were loaded as previously Jett Sipes earned a walk, Glenn singled, and Shaffer Earley was hit by a pitch.  Then Ben Sattazahn singled to right and scored two.  But, with the next at plate, a caught fly ball to left field ended the hopes of a walk off win.

Finn Kuhn (6-2) took the loss for the Spartans. The starter went four innings, allowing five runs on six hits, striking out four and walking three.  Sipes pitched two innings in relief.  He looked comfortable on the mound yielding no runs off one hit, striking out one and walking one. 

Hoyt Glenn was cooking despite the team’s loss, going 3-for-4 with one run, one double, and one RBI. Ben Sattazahn also made a difference as he went 2-for-3 and led with two RBIs. Sipes went 1-for-2 with two runs, one double, and one RBI.  The defense turned one double play.

Reece Witmer earned the win for the Flames. The starter gave up six hits and two runs over five innings, striking out six and walking one.  Trey Wenger pitched two innings, yielding two runs (two earned) on three hits, striking out two and walking one.

Carter Defenderfer led the Flames by going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. The Flame defense turned one double play.

Next, McConnellsburg will host Southern Huntington County to and final regular season, non-league home game on May 15 at 2 p.m.

                 1    2    3    4    5    6    7    R    H    E

MCCN   0    0    2    0    0    0    2    4    9    1

SHLM     0    2    2    1    0    0    X    5    7    1

SOFTBALL

McConnellsburg 15, Shalom Christian 0. The Lady Spartans hosted the Shalom Christian Academy Lady Flames in a non-league game on May 11 and held them scoreless finishing early after four innings with a 15-0 win.  The Spartans stormed out in the first inning with seven runs and added eight in the second inning to cruise to victory by mercy rule.   This win bid farewell to a four-game losing streak.  McConnellsburg’s victory raised their record to 7-11. They have now won six matchups by seven runs or more this season.  For Shalom, the defeat dropped their record to 1-8, and their fourth straight road loss.

                 1    2    3    4    5    6    7    R      H    E

SHLM     0    0    0    0    X    X    X    0      2    9

MCCN   0    0    2    0    X    X    X    15    4    0

————————-

McConnellsburg and DeShong’s display defeat Tussey Mountain

BOYS BASEBALL

McConnellsburg 15, Tussey Mountain 3.  The Spartans travelled to Tussey Mountain on May 11 and put a 12-run drubbing on the host Titans.  Senior Gavin “Bird” DeShong drove in four runs on three hits to lead the Spartans.  He singled in the fourth, scoring two; walked in the third, scoring one; and doubled in the seventh scoring one. The 15-3 result is the ninth game this season having won by nine runs or more, with the win their sixth straight on the road. 

The Spartans opened the scoring in the second after Hoyt Glenn grounded out, scoring one run.  Then they got hot and scored six runs on three hits in the top of the third inning: Ben Sattazahn doubled, scoring two; DeShong drew a walk, scoring one run; Jace Fletcher singled, scoring two runs; and Glenn grounded out, scoring one run.  The Spartans added two runs in the fourth when Tucker Hedge and Shaffer Earley scored on the DeShong two-out line-drive single.  In the fifth, two runs were scored: first when Reese Alexander singled to score Glenn; and second when Ben Sattazan doubled to score Alexander. In the sixth, Glenn singled to score courtesy runner Etsy Alexander.  Lastly, in the seventh, three runs scored when:  Sattazahn scored on the DeShong double; then Jett Sipes doubled to score Vinny Badalementi and DeShong.

The Spartans collected 14 hits, a season high.  Sattazahn and DeShong had three hits each.  Glenn and Earley grabbed two each.  Tucker Hedge led the team with three walks aiding the team’s strong eye at the plate as it piled up 10 walks. Glenn stole two bases as the team collected six.  The defense turned two double plays.

Kaden Marpoe started on the mound for the Spartans and earned the win.  He (4-2) surrendered three hits and three runs (two earned) over five innings, striking out seven and walking four.  Hoyt Glenn pitched in relief two innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits, striking out two and walking one. Of note, he has been consistent: he hasn’t given up more than one walk in five consecutive appearances.

Glenn was a major factor hitting going 2-for-5 with two stolen bases, two RBIs, and one run.  DeShong was a standout placing 3-for-4 with four RBIs, two runs, and one double. (A season high in hits and RBIs.)  Ben Sattazahn also was key, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs, two runs, and two doubles.

Camden Chilcote took the loss for Tussey Mountain. The starting pitcher went four and one-third innings, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) on seven hits, striking out five and walking seven. Noah Lucko pitched in relief 1.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits, striking out three and walking two.  Parker Young finished in relief one inning, yielding three runs on three hits, striking out one and walking one.

Jax Garner, Wyatt Clark, Lucko, Chilcote, and Young each collected one hit for the Titans. Clark went 1-for-2 with two RBIs. Tussey played error free defense.

The Spartans pushed their record up to 14-4 with the win, their sixth straight on the road, with those road wins in part to their hitting performance having averaged 11.5 runs over those games.  

                 1    2    3    4    5    6    7    R     H     E

MCCN   0    1    6    2    2    1    3    15   14   2

TSSY       0    0    3    0    0    0    0      3     5    0

JHBB:  McC 7, TM 8

SOFTBALL

McConnellsburg 3, Tussey Mountain 4.  The Lady Spartans visited the Tussey Mountain Lady Titans for a cross-conference game on May 11 and almost came back after a four run fourth inning cap set by the Titans.  The Spartans scored two in the third inning and one in the seventh inning.  They had three hits while the Titans clubbed eight.

                 1    2    3    4    5    6    7    R    H    E

MCCN   0    0    2    0    0    0    1    3    3    2

TSSY       0    0    0    0    4    0    x    4    8    2