SELINSGROVE - Juniata's Chance Swartz drove home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to claim an 8-7 win over Mifflinburg in the first round of the District 13 Junior baseball tournament Sunday evening.
Swartz's heroics came after lead off man Aaron Zendt reached on an error. Zendt then stole second. He was advanced to third on Lane Hutchinson's ground out. The next batter was Swartz and he delivered.
Swartz finished the game with a trio of hits and a pair of RBI. Derek Snyder, who picked up the win for Juniata in relief, also had three hits and two RBI. Snyder had seven strikeouts as well.
The biggest play defensively for Juniata came in the sixth when Mifflinburg had the bases loaded and no outs. Juniata got out of the jam by allowing only one run to cross the plate.
Juniata plays Shik/Acorn at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Selinsgrove.
District 5
Big Valley 7, Mifflin County 5
BELLEVILLE - In a battle between the two District 5 teams from Mifflin County in the 10-11-year old tournament Saturday, Big Valley came out with a 7-5 win over Mifflin County.
Big Valley moves on to play State College National in the winner's bracket final at 6 p.m. Thursday at a place to be determined.
Big Valley was awarded a bye to start the tournament, while Mifflin County was a winner over Penns Valley. Mifflin County will play Marion Walker today.
State College American 16, Mifflin County 12
LEWISTOWN - Mifflin County's run in the District 5 9-10 tournament came to an end Saturday with a 16-12 loss at the hands of State College American.
In a game that featured a total of 23 walks, Mifflin County outhit State College by a 12-5 margin but couldn't come out with the win.
After scoring five runs in the third, Mifflin County took the lead, but in the top of the fourth State College matched that total to reclaim the lead for good.
Evan Smith was 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI in a losing effort. Also picking up three hits was Hudson First, who was 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI. Noah Wright finished with two hits and three RBI, while Camden Shawver also had three RBI.
Also driving home runs for Mifflin County was Dustin Carolus, who had two, and Rodney Henry.
District 13
Southern Columbia 15, Snyder County 0 (4 inn.)
MILTON - Snyder County allowed 15 runs for the second straight game in the District 13 10-11-year old tournament Saturday en route to a 15-0 loss at the hands of Southern Columbia.
The locals dropped their first game of the tournament 15-2 to Mount Carmel.
The road for Snyder County has come to an end for the 2012 season.
Warrior Run 12, Snyder County 2
LAURELTON - Snyder County was eliminated from the District 13 Area II Major division tournament with a 12-2 loss to Warrior Run.
This was the second time in as many games in the tournament that Snyder County gave up 12 runs. It lost to Milton 12-1 in the tournament opener.
Selinsgrove 18, Juniata 12 (4 inn.)
LAURELTON - Despite a pair of home runs from Juniata, the locals were unable to keep their season alive as they fell to Selinsgrove 18-12 in an elimination game in the District 13 11-12 tournament Saturday.
Juniata's Zach Piper led off the bottom of the first with a home run and Jared Heister added a three-run homer in the fourth inning to pace Juniata.
The locals scored at least one run in five innings. A seven-run second inning started a scoring string for Selinsgrove.
Heister finished the game with a pair of hits and four RBI. Zach Fogle had three hits in a losing effort. Cabe Kreider also had two hits and two runs batted in.
Legion baseball
Clarence 12, Mifflin County 2
CLARENCE - Mifflin County committed six errors in a 12-2 loss to Clarence Sunday evening in Legion baseball action.
The only two runs Mifflin County would score were in the third inning on an RBI from Joey Knepp. The other run scored via an error.
"We came out flat," Mifflin County coach Larry Wolfe said. "A lot of the errors were not getting grounders in the outfield and letting runners advance."
Mifflin County's only extra-base hit came from Zach Yetter. But it was the defense that let down the Central Penn squad.
"We weren't able to keep double plays in order and Clarence hit the ball well," Wolfe said. "But we just can't give up all the extra stuff and be competitive."
Mifflin County (8-12) host Bellefonte this afternoon.
West Snyder 9, Selinsgrove 6
MIDDLEBURG - A six-run second inning propelled West Snyder to a 9-6 win over Selinsgrove Saturday in Legion baseball action.
Shane Connahan ripped a double for the winners while Chad Eberle finished the game 2 for 3 with a pair of RBI.
Zach Moist got the win on the mound for West Snyder.
West Snyder travels to Bloomsburg today.
