By Jeff Richards

BOYS BASEBALL

McConnellsburg 3, Windber 4.  On May 19, the #4 seed Spartans hosted the #5 seed Windber Ramblers in a District 5 Class 2A first-round matchup and nearly pulled off a ninth-inning comeback. Trailing by two, the Spartans put two runners on and pushed one run across, but the Ramblers closed it out to deny them a semifinal berth.

Windber opened the scoring in the fifth after Logan Serenko doubled, scoring one run.  The Spartans jumped back into the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning after Ben Sattazahn grounded out, and Kaden Marpoe doubled to left field, each scoring one run (Reese Alexander and Shaffer Earley, respectively). 

Dalton Strick grounded out to help Windber tie the game at two in the top of the seventh.  Windber took the lead in the top of the ninth when Lucas Rummell homered to left field, scoring two runs, to take the advantage, 4-2.  The Spartans added one run in the bottom of the ninth when Jace Fletcher scored on an Alexander sacrifice fly.

Ben Sattazahn took the loss for the Spartans. The relief pitcher went three and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out one and walking three. Kaden Marpoe stepped on the hill first for the Spartans. He surrendered four hits and one run (one earned) over 5.1 innings, striking out five and walking four.

The Spartans totaled eight hits with five players having at least one hit. Marpoe went 3-for-3 at the plate with one double and one RBI and led in hits. Reese Alexander went 1-for-3 with one run and one RBI.  The Spartans stole four bases.  The defense turned one double play in the game.

Ike Serenko earned the win for Windber. The relief pitcher surrendered two hits and one run (zero earned) over two and one-third innings, striking out none and walking none.  Logan Serenko opened the game for the Ramblers. The starting pitcher allowed six hits and two runs (one earned) over six and two-thirds innings, striking out six and walking two.

Windber totaled nine hits, with Rummell driving in two RBIs and going 1-for-2. Cole Heinrich, Logan Serenko, and Dylan Woodruff each had two hits. The team drew seven walks and stole five bases.

The Spartans’ season ends with a record of 14-7.  Windber (15-6) advances to the semi-final round game at #1 seed Conemaugh Township (19-0) on May 22.

                 1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    R    H    E

WIND     0    0    0    0    1    0    1    0    2    4    9    4

MCCN   0    0    0    0    0    2    0    0    1    3    8    4

Notes:  Congratulations to the following athletes for their selection of the Inter-County Conference South/East All-Star teams.  

• Baseball:  Reese Alexander. First team; Shaffer Earley. First team; and Hoyt Glenn. Honorable Mention. 
• Softball:  Makayley Shafer. First Team; and Braelyn Barnes. Honorable Mention

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SOFTBALL

McConnellsburg 1, Tussey Mountain 16. The #5 seed Lady Spartans visited the #4 seed Tussey Mountain Lady Titans in the first round of the District 5 Class 2A playoffs on May 19 and suffered a third inning scoring romp by the Titans to end the game early by 15-run rule.  The game was scoreless into the third inning, when the Spartans scored first when Makayley Shafer singled, scoring the lone run.  In the bottom of the third, the Titans ran away with the game scoring 16, ending the Spartans season and denying their bid for a semifinal berth.  The Lady Spartans’ season ends with a record of 9-12.  Tussey (11-10) advances to the semi-final round game at #1 seed Everett (16-4) on May 21.