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Bad start dooms East Juniata in loss

Lexi Stuck has Tigers’ lone hit of the contest

Sentinel photo by MIKE GOSS
East Juniata's Carlee Barrick attempts to tag Penns Valley's Devan Stoner on a play at the plate Wednesday in Mifflintown.

COCOLAMUS — Penns Valley pounded out 16 hits and took advantage of nine walks and five errors to come away with a decisive 23-0 nonleague softball victory over East Juniata on a windy Wednesday afternoon. The game was called after three innings because of the 15-run rule.

The Rams (2-3) scored nine runs in the first, 11 in the second and three in the third to force the mercy rule on the Tigers, who fell to 1-4 on the season.

Anything that could go wrong did go wrong for East Juniata in the first inning. The Tigers committed four errors, scoring two Rams’ runs, allowed a passed ball to bring in a run and walked in a run. In addition, Kaylah Thompson had a two-run double, Jordan Anderson an RBI double, Kendra Bumgardner an RBI base hit and a fielder’s choice RBI by Morgan Hurd.

“We are a young team. Penns Valley is a good team with lots of experienced players, so we knew it would be a tough game,” East Juniata coach Lauren Maguire said. “Our errors keep piling up and we have to learn to limit them. We only have three or four girls returning from last year and it’s tough when you don’t have that experience.”

The Rams kept the offense churning in the second thanks to a three-run double by Bumgardner and an RBI base hit from Anderson. Brianna Bressler and Lydia Collison each had two RBI singles in the inning.

“They were hitting the ball, putting it in play and did what they had to do. This is a hitting team. They know how to put that ball in play and that’s what we kept telling them,” Penns Valley coach Tessa Deardorff said. “If you put the ball in play good things are going to happen. They definitely did that today and I think they’ll continue to do that as the season progresses.”

Penns Valley added three more in the third on RBI singles from Anderson and Devan Stoner and a bases-loaded walk to Collison that brought home a run.

East Juniata got its only hit of the game in the third inning when Lexi Stuck reached on a single to right. The Rams faced only 10 Tiger batters in the game.

“They have to come out and play with confidence. They can’t put their heads down when things go wrong. They have to keep their heads up and limit their mistakes,” Maguire said. “It comes down to repetition and getting that experience.”

Bumgardner picked up the win for the Rams, going two innings allowing no hits with three strikeouts. Allie O’Brien came on in relief and pitched a scoreless third. Carlee Barrick suffered the loss for the Tigers.

Anderson led Penns Valley with four hits. Collison added three while Bumgardner, Stoner and Brassler added two hits each. Collison and Bumgardner had four RBIs, Anderson three and Bressler and Thompson two.

“We have a triple threat with three good pitchers. The defense played well. Everything was working today. The girls were on it and ready to play, despite the unfortunate wind conditions,” Deardorff said. “Overall, we are playing well. Our three losses were close games and we were right there. We are at a really good place to keep growing throughout the rest of the season. This game was a confidence booster for the girls. “

East Juniata travels to Upper Dauphin for Tri-Valley League action today.

Penns Valley 23, East Juniata 0 (3 Innings)

Penns Valley 9(11)3 – 23-16-0

East Juniata 000 – 0-1-5

WP: Kendra Bumgardner. LP: Carlee Barrick. SO: Baumgardner 3, Allie O’Brien 2 (PV); Barrick (EJ). BB: Barrick 5, Becca Deitz 4 (EJ). 2B: Bumgardner, Avelyn Van Heyst, Brianna Bressler, Jordan Anderson, Kaylah Thompson (PV). MH: Anderson 4-4, Lydia Collison 3-3, Bumgardner 2-3, Devan Stoner 2-4, Bressler 2-2. RBI: Collison 4, Bumgardner 4, Anderson 3, Bressler 2, Thompson 2, Morgan Hurd, Stoner (PV).

Baseball

Loyalsock 17, Midd-West 2 (4 inn.)

BEAVER SPRINGS — Midd-West couldn’t do much of anything in a 17-2 loss to Loyalsock in Heartland Conference baseball Wednesday afternoon.

Camden Richards and Hunter Wolfley each drove in a run for the Mustangs.

Midd-West travels to St. Joseph’s today.

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