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Huskies come back, suffer heartbreak

Sentinel photo by MATT STRICKER
Mifflin County’s Evan Mock, left, slides into home beating the throw to Cumberland Valley pitcher Tyler Thompson in the Huskies’ four-run fourth Wednesday in Lewistown. Mock scored the first of the four runs on a wild pitch.

LEWISTOWN — Mifflin County battled back from a five-run deficit only to lose a 6-5 heartbreaker in nine innings to Cumberland Valley in a Mid-Penn Commonwealth baseball game on Wednesday.

The Huskies are now in a must-win situation for a playoff berth. Mifflin County must beat State College at home on Friday to make the District 6, Class 6A tournament.

The Huskies are now 7-10 overall and 6-7 in the league. Under school policy, Mifflin County must be .500 or better in overall, district or conference record. If they beat the Little Lions in their Mid-Penn finale, they would be 7-7 and advance to districts.

“This is it. We have to win the game Friday if we want to make the playoffs. The guys are down in the dumps right now and that’s okay. It’s a natural feeling,” Mifflin County coach Bernie Howard said. “This was a tough one to lose because of the way we battled back. We have an off-day tomorrow and then we’ll be back against State College. We’ll put a game plan together and be ready for the game.”

Cumberland Valley (8-7, 8-5) scored what would be the game winner when Logan Sauve, a freshman who already committed to West Virginia, stroked a single to left bringing Tyler Dunn home.

Mifflin County had a golden opportunity go to waste when Colby Bodtorf led off the ninth with a double to center but failed to score. Brian Yetter popped up to the catcher, Evan Smith struck out and Tyreen Smalley just missed beating out a grounder to short to end the game.

“Colby has that lead-off double and we are thinking good things. I was surprised they didn’t put Yetter on to set up the double play,” Howard said. “They gambled and it paid off for them.”

The Huskies mounted their comeback with a four-run fourth inning. Evan Mock singled and stole second. Noah Wright followed with a base hit and moved to second on a wild pitch that scored Mock. Wyatt Henry brought Wright home on a fielder’s choice to make it 5-2.

Max Oburn singled and Bodtorf reached on an error to load the bases. Brian Yetter plated Henry on the knock up the middle and Smith received an RBI walk, scoring Oburn.

Mifflin County tied it in the seventh when Yetter doubled, went to third on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Smith.

“Our guys do not need to hang their heads. This was a very well played game. We were charged with a first-inning error and didn’t have one after that,” Howard said. “Down 5-0, to battle back like that was huge. Cumberland Valley has always been a good hitting team and they were like a buzzsaw today. They got up 5-0 and we weren’t walking guys. They were just crushing the ball.”

The Eagles scored a run in the first, three in the second and one in the fourth to build their 5-0 advantage. Ben Myers had four hits while teammates Dunn, Jayson Kramer and Brendan Landry had two hits each. Yetter and Bryce Dobson led the Huskies with two hits apiece.

Landry took the win in relief for Cumberland Valley. He allowed only one hit in two-and-a-third innings.

“Brendan had some highs and lows all over the field, but he’s a senior and we believe in him. Mifflin County has a heck of a team and we knew they’d give us everything they had,” Eagles coach Levi Mumma said. “I knew it was too early to take our foot off the gas and that’s our fault. We took a breather and let them get back in it. It was as great game and I’m super thrilled how we came back, battled some adversity, and got the win.”

Bodtorf suffered the loss, allowing two runs with three strikeouts and four walks.

“The guys played a tremendous baseball game. Colby Bodtorf deserved a better fate. He pitched a wonderful game in relief,” Howard said. “He was well at 100 pitches in the ninth and that’s the game. That’s how it bounces sometimes. You got to like the way we played.”

The Husky junior varsity squad won 4-0.

Mifflin County hosts State College Friday at 4:15 p.m.

Cumberland Valley 6, Mifflin County 5 (9 inn.)

Cumberland Valley 130 100 001 — 6-14-4

Mifflin County 000 400 100 — 5-8-1

WP: Brendan Landry. LP: Colby Bodtorf. SO: Tyler Thompson, Tyler Dunn, Landry (CV); Tyreen Smalley, Bodtorf 3 (MC). BB: Thompson 2 (CV); Smalley 2, Bodtorf 4 (MC). 3B: Ben Myers (CV). 2B: Myers (CV), Bodtorf, Brian Yetter (MC). MH: Myers 4-4, Jayson Kramer 2-4, Landry 2-4, Dunn 2-5 (CV); Yetter 2-4, Bryce Dobson 2-4 (MC). RBI: Myers, Dunn, Logan Sauve, David Mangold, Ty Banach (CV); Yetter, Smalley, Wyatt Henry, Evan Smith (MC).

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