LEWISTOWN - Lewistown's Centre County League baseball came to the field Thursday evening looking to finish its game with a win to sweep Spring Mills in a best-of-five playoff series. The rain, however, had a different idea.
The men played against a back-drop of gray clouds through the first three innings, but right before the fourth began, a loud clap of thunder and some accompanying rain put the game in a rain delay.
Under normal circumstances, this would have been a disappointment. But with a Spring Mills lead of 6-0, it might have been Lewistown's saving grace.
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Lewistown’s Tanner Kibe fields a ground ball during the Predators’ Centre County League playoff game with Spring Mills Thursday in Lewistown. Spring Mills was up 6-0 in the fourth when the game was suspended due to rain. The game is rescheduled for today at 5:45 p.m. at Mifflin County High School.
On the offensive end, Lewistown was having trouble finding holes in Spring Mills' defense. In the bottom of the first, Jay Hartman singled, and in the bottom of the second Cody Heane reached first on a walk. But these were Lewistown's only baserunners through three innings. Aside from these two sparks of hope, every other time Lewistown put the ball into play, it was either a routine grounder to short, or a fly ball to the outfield.
But if Lewistown's offense could barely make a spark, Spring Mills' offense was on fire. By scattering hits all throughout the field, Spring Mills' batters came out and scorched Lewistown with a big six-run lead. In addition to hitting the ball, Spring Mills also took advantage of some troubles Lewistown pitcher Jonathan Wurley was having from the mound. Advancing on passed balls, wild pitches and walks, Spring Mills' baserunners kept kicking up dust along the base path as they continued their offensive onslaught.
When Lewistown and Spring Mills resume their game tonight at 5:45, it will become apparent whether or not the rain doused Spring Mills' offensive fire. Then again, maybe Lewistown, which leads the five game series 2-0, will come back ready to score a few runs of its own.
