Trojans best Tri-Valley in state quarters, 4-3

NEWVILLE - As a pitcher, Cody McClain knows that walks and passed balls can be the death knell for any team in a big ballgame.

It's just plain lethal when they both happen in the same inning.

McClain, a senior hurler for Mount Union, was just thankful on Thursday that the Trojans were the recipient of some good fortune.

McClain walked to open the bottom of the 10th inning, advanced to third base on a groundout and a passed ball then raced home with the game-winning run on a Georgie Bilger single as Mount Union advanced to the PIAA Class 2A Tournament with a 4-3 victory over Tri-Valley at Big Spring High School.

The District 6 champion Trojans (20-5) now advance to the PIAA semifinals to face District 1 champion Faith Christian, which outlasted South Williamsport 11-4 in nine innings. Tri-Valley, the District 11 champion, ended its season at 20-7.

McClain earned the win on the mound, throwing the final four innings in relief of starter Davin Yocum. McClain allowed one run and scattered three hits while striking out five and walking three.

Yocum went the first six innings, allowed one earned run on four hits, striking out four and walking two.

Tri-Valley starter Braeden Doyle kept the Trojan hitters under wraps early as he breezed through the first five innings.

The Dawgs broke through with a run in the top of the third to take the lead. Peyton Schley singled on a line drive to center and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Gavin Scheib. After Schley reached third on an error, he scored on the first run of the game on a groundout by Jason Stewart.

Mount Union finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth as Dylan Shawver reached on an error, went to second on another single by Levi Hunsinger and eventually scored to knot the game at 1-1.

The Dawgs responded with what appeared to be game-winning runs in the seventh. Scheib and Stewart both walked and later scored on a two-run double by Gavin Klock to center field. That gave Tri-Valley a 3-1 cushion.

Down to its last three outs, Mount Union rallied to tie the score as Maddox Hobbs singled with one out, and one batter later, he moved to second on a wild pitch. Hobbs scored on a double by Jamon Ranck as the Trojans cut the deficit to 3-2.

Shawver then smacked a single to left to plate Ranck with the tying run.

The game remained deadlocked until the 10th when Glock walked McClain to start the frame. McClain advanced to second on a passed ball.

Nasir Collins then grounded out as McClain went to third. That set up the heroics by Bilger, who hit a ball to third that sent McClain home with the game-winner. It was Bilger's first hit in four at-bats.

Hobbs was the only repeat hitter for Mount Union, which outhit Tri-Valley 8-7 in the contest. Doyle accounted for two of the Dawgs' seven hits.

Doyle went seven innings but got a no decision for Tri-Valley. Two of the three runs he gave up were earned. He scattered six hits, struck out four and walked two.

Klock suffered the loss in relief, pitching the final 2 1/3 innings. He allowed one run - it wasn't earned - two hits, struck out two and walked three.