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Mt. Union edges Mifflin County in extras

Lear’s 4-RBI night lifts Mount Union

Sentinel photo by WILLIAM WHISLER
Mount Union’s Vince Lear drives a two-run home run to left field in a 4-3 extra-inning victory over Mifflin County in a Central Penn League Independent Baseball matchup. Lear drove in all four runs for Mount Union in the contest.

MOUNT UNION — In a battle of Independent League heavyweights, Mifflin County and Mount Union seemed destined for a wild finish. No one could have guessed it would be this wild, though.

Mount Union (12-3) held the early leverage after a two-run home run by right fielder Vince Lear, but it was Lear’s infield single in the bottom of the eighth inning with the bases loaded and two outs that lifted Mount Union to a 4-3 victory to secure the regular season title and the automatic berth into the Independent League Regional Tournament Aug. 7-9 in Hollidaysburg.

Lear hit a slow roller to Mifflin County (12-3) shortstop Colby Bodtorf, who fielded the ball and rocketed it to Rylan Bailey, who was clipped by Lear on his way to the bag. Lear was ruled safe by the field umpire, despite the objections of the Mifflin County players and coaches.

“I thought that I was there and I didn’t mean to do what I did to their first baseman,” Lear said. “We talked a little bit after the play and we’re fine. He knows it wasn’t intentional.”

Mount Union coach Marty Walter said he was told by the field umpire afterward that Bailey had pulled his foot from the bag, resulting in the safe call and the win. Mifflin County coaches were not offered an explanation.

“It was a (heck) of a ball game,” Walter said. “The call was that the kid was off the bag. I don’t know. It’s baseball. I’ve won some like that and I’ve lost some like that.”

Shortly after the play, the umpires came together for a discussion, but opted to let the safe call stand to end the game as impending darkness would have most likely delayed the conclusion until the next day. The field umpire then went to leave, as the home plate umpire stood by home plate as teams lined up to shake hands.

As the teams lined up, a skirmish broke out around home plate and players from both teams made comments toward the home plate umpire before Mifflin County and Mount Union players and coaches brought the situation under control and both teams walked peacefully back to their respective dugouts. There was no physical altercation between the teams.

Multiple Mifflin County coaches and players alleged after the game that the home plate umpire physically struck a Mifflin County player, leading to the postgame incident. Mount Union Police were called to the scene to investigate. It was not known as of press time whether criminal charges have been filed.

Mount Union took an early 2-0 lead on a home run in the second inning that towered into the trees off the bat of Lear to give Mount Union’s Dylan Gearhart the run support he needed.

“We had a lot of heart tonight,” Lear said. “I was looking fastball, just trying to get a pitch to hit and hoped that the run would score.”

Mount Union added the third run in the fourth on an RBI single by Lear.

Gearhart had a few tough frames but worked out of jams in the first and fourth innings to blank Mifflin County through four.

Mifflin County got back into the game in the fifth, as a one-out walk by Bodtorf and an RBI double to left field past a diving Cam Donaldson scored a run to make it 3-1, Mount Union. Mifflin County plated a second run on an RBI single to left by Ethan Eichhorn.

“I can’t take anything away from our guys,” Mifflin County coach John McGonigle said. “They left their heart and soul out there on the field tonight and that’s the bottom line.”

Mifflin County went 1-2-3 in the sixth, as the inning ended with Connor Cherry striking out looking on a curveball. Cherry was tossed for arguing balls and strikes after the play.

Mifflin County tied the game in the seventh on a sacrifice fly to center field by Dobson. A double by Cole Knable landed between two confused Mount Union outfielders to set up the Mifflin County the scoring opportunity.

“The dropped flyball in the outfield shocked me,” Walter said. “That’s two of the best kids in the league. It shocked me, but it happens. Mifflin County is tough, I don’t care what anybody says. I wish them the best and I hope we see them in Regional. I don’t think anyone can compete with those guys.”

Bodtorf and Gearhart matched each other through most of the game, as Bodtorf pitched into the eighth inning. Dobson came on in relief to face Lear to set up the final play of the game. Lear drove in all four runs for Mount Union.

“He came through,” Walter said. “I moved the lineup around a little bit. He batted fifth before and I bumped him down to see if he could see some better pitches to hit instead of all the tension of batting fourth. I put Braylen in the four spot. I have confidence in all of these kids.”

Gearhart picked up a no-decision, throwing 7.2 innings and scattering eights hits while striking out eight.

“That was what it was going to be,” Walter said. “I knew it was going to be a pitching duel. I talked to their pitcher [Colby Bodtorf]. He’s a heck of a player. Kudos to them and I hope he gets into the major leagues.”

Bodtorf went 7.2 innings, gave up eight hits and struck out five.

“We just fell on the wrong end of the stick tonight,” McGonigle said.

With the win, Mount Union earns an automatic bid into the Regional Tournament.

“I’m excited to play some more baseball,” Lear said. “I’m excited to see a little bit more out of the kids that were on the bench. It’s the best group of guys I’ve ever played for. It’s a shame we didn’t have a high school season because it would’ve been mostly the same dudes.”

Mifflin County will have to play its way in during the Central Penn Division Tournament, beginning on Saturday at Armagh Field.

Mifflin County will play Saturday at 12:30 p.m., against the winner of Juniata Valley and Tyrone. Juniata Valley and Tyrone will play at 10 a.m. in Milroy.

“We’re going to come out on Saturday and do our jobs,” McGonigle said.

Mount Union 4, Mifflin County 3 (8 innings)

Mount Union 020 100 01 — 4 9 0

Mifflin County 000 020 10 — 3 8 1

WP: Zach Baird. LP: Colby Bodtorf. SO: Dylan Gearhart 8 (MU); Bodtorf 5 (MC). BB: Gearhart 3 (MU); Bodtorf 2 (MC). HR: Vince Lear (MU). 2B: Bryce Dobson 2, Cole Knable (MC). MH: Lear 3-4, Gearhart 2-3, Bryce Danish 2-4 (MU); Dobson 2-4, Knable 2-4 (MC). RBI: Lear 4 (MU); Dobson 2, Ethan Eichhorn (MC).

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