MARTINSBURG - Sometimes you need to use small ball to win a baseball game. Sometimes you need to take chances.
On Friday, Mifflin County did both. In the top of the eighth inning, the Huskies broke a 1-1 tie when Hunter Walker doubled to lead off the inning and Seth Wagner pushed him across the plate on a suicide squeeze, enough for a 2-1 outcome over Central.
"Sometimes when you're not hitting well you have to find a way," Mifflin County coach Travis Zook said. "That caught them a little off guard."
Walker advanced to third when Ted Wilson followed his hit with a sacrifice bunt. Wagner laid the next one down, and it took Central so much by surprise that he beat the throw and got aboard, although there was no more scoring.
In the fourth inning, Josh Rosefsky hit a solo homer to give the Huskies the first lead, but Central answered that in the bottom when two walks, a fielder's choice and an error combined to allow the tying run across.
In the JV game, Colton Craig went 4-for-4 and along with Jacob Larson and Gage Reeseman had home runs in a 22-9, five-inning contest.
Mifflin County (3-0) hosts Penns Valley Wednesday.
Baseball
Mount Union 11, Tyrone 9
TYRONE - Mount Union has battled tight games over the first part of the season to post a 2-1 record. It was no different Friday at Tyrone.
At one point, the Trojans were down 7-2. However, coach Nick Imperioli and his squad never stopped fighting and game back to win 11-9 over the Golden Eagles.
"It isn't going to be a highlight film on the great fundamentals of baseball," Imperioli said of the 11 errors committed in the game. "For these young kids to believe in themselves and come back like that - it's an ideal attitude for them to have."
Ryan McClain lifted the game-winning sacrifice fly in the seventh inning. Darien Stapleton got the win in relief after going four innings and giving up one run.
"He did a great job," Imperioli said. "He came in and really shut the door. He stayed ahead of most hitters he did a really splendid job."
Brandon Rogers added three hits for the Trojans.
Mount Union (3-1, 2-1) hosts Glendale Tuesday.
Central Mountain 12, Juniata 2 (5 inn.)
MILL HALL - Central Mountain scored six runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back, sending Juniata home on the down side of a 12-2, five-inning loss in Mountain League baseball Friday.
Juniata coach Nick Beward said the Wildcats just went after his starting pitcher and the ball.
"When we went down 6-0, Seth Bowersox on the mound, he threw strikes," Beward said. "They were just very aggressive in the very first round at bat."
Of three pitchers for the Indians, only three walks were issued - which did hurt, Beward said - and only two batters struck out. Each team committed five errors.
"They got a lot on the walks and the errors," he said. "The errors ate us alive tonight."
Juniata (1-3, 1-3) travels to Penns Valley Monday.
Midd-West 9, Mifflinburg 7
MIDDLEBURG - Midd-West's bats finally awakened against Mifflinburg Friday. The Mustangs scored five in the first inning en route to their first victory - a 9-7 win over Mifflinburg in Heartland Conference action.
Colton Keister got the win for the Mustangs going the distance. He scattered only six hits in the game.
"Keister threw a heck of a ballgame," Midd-West coach Ron Flood said. "He threw a lot of pitches but we were trying to get the win."
Shane Connahan had a superb day at the plate for the Mustangs. He belted a pair of triples and added a single in a 3-for-4 day. Luke Zimmerman and Justin Mattern each drove in a pair. Colton Snook brought in three for the Mustangs.
Midd-West (1-3, 1-2) travels to Danville Monday.
Softball
Central Mountain 5, Juniata 4
MIFFLINTOWN - Central Mountain handed Juniata another Mountain League loss after trailing 3-0 at the end of the first inning.
Juniata (1-4, 0-3) hosts Penns Valley Monday.
Tennis
Mifflin County 7, Huntingdon 0
HUNTINGDON - Mifflin County's tennis squad breezed through all but two spots in the lineup - and still won both of those comfortably - as the Huskies topped Huntingdon, 7-0, Friday.
Mifflin County won all five singles matches in straight sets and gave up only three games in two pro-set doubles matches.
"It was a good match and we were glad everyone could contribute to the win," student assistant Brandon Moist said. "It was a good match to build off of."
Mifflin County hosts Central Mountain Monday.
