Sentinel photo by MIKE GOSS Mifflin County’s Riley Hine tries to bring in a throw as Mt. Union’s Payton Williams steals second base during Friday’s softball game.
By Kenny Varner
Sports corresponding
LEWISTOWN — Two legendary softball programs met Friday to end the week when Mifflin County welcomed Mount Union in a non-league battle in front of a field full of the future of Mifflin County softball with hands to cheer on their heroes. Teams from the local MC Little League were on hand in a picture-perfect weather day at the Lady Huskies’ field.
The home team gave their fans a lot to cheer about as the Lady Huskies defeated a feisty Mount Union squad, 5-2.
With the win, the Huskies improved their record to 5-5 while the Trojans dropped to 6-7.
In the circle, pitcher Piper Specht led the Huskies as she finished with a three-hitter in the win.
“There are times when you have to do the little things to generate runs and tonight was one of those nights. They (Mount Union) made a lot of good plays on defense. We hit the ball hard but right at them. There are times you have to do that and tonight they did and I’m proud of them,” said Mifflin County coach Craig Weston. “They had good base running. “They put the bunts down when we needed it.”
Taking the loss for the Lady Trojans was Ke Wible who went four and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs on three hits.
“We started the game well. We scored that first run. “I thought we were in the right mindset but we might have been overwhelmed with the week,” said Mount Union coach Dennis Drake. “We might have been a little bit tired. “We just didn’t have much fire.”
Mount Union got right to work in the first inning.
Leadoff hitter Payton Williams singled back up the middle to start things off.
Reagan Yocum followed Williams on base with a walk.
Sydnee Harris advanced both runners putting down a sacrifice bunt.
With runners on second and third, Ke Wible hustled out an infield single, allowing Williams to score.
The Mifflin County defense held, keeping the damage to a minimum.
In the second, the Lady Huskies battled back to take the lead.
Falynn Reinard got her team started as she singled off the glove of the Mount Union right fielder.
Alexis O’Brien moved Reinard into scoring position with a picture-perfect sacrifice bunt.
Alaina Sharp reached on a single to third and hustled out the throw.
Ava Baker blasted a single that scored both Reinard and Sharp. Sharp moved up to second on a Lady Trojan error.
Baker scored on a wild pitch, giving the Huskies a 3-1 advantage.
That would be all the cushion that Specht and company would need as she was a force in the circle from the second until the seventh, refusing to allow a hit.
“I felt very comfortable. “I had my team behind me,” said Specht when asked if she felt comfortable in the circle. “I’m very proud of my team.”
Mifflin County added a run in the fourth frame.
Riley Hine, who went 2-for-3 on the night, hit a blooper into shallow right field. Arika Henry sacrificed Hine up a base with a sacrifice bunt.
Hine later scored on another wild pitch, making it a three-run Huskies lead.
In the sixth, Mifflin County added an insurance run as Hine scored for the second time in the afternoon thanks to a Jalee Bodtorf bunt single.
Mount Union refused to go away without a fight, rallying in their last at-bats.
Payton Crisswell walked. Teammate Callie Trego followed with one of her own.
Pinch hitter Andrea Simmons came off the bench and smacked a clutch single into left field.
Crisswell later scored on a strikeout pitch that skipped by the Mifflin County catcher, allowing him to score.
But it wasn’t enough as the MIfflin County defense held, securing the victory.
Mt. Union visits Williamsburg Monday. Mifflin County travels to face Chambersburg on Tuesday for a doubleheader.
Mifflin County 5, Mount Union 2
MU 100,000 1 – 2 3 2
MC 030 101 x – 5 6 0
WP: Piper Specht
LP: Ke Wible
Multiple hitters: MU – None. MC – Alaina Sharp 2-for-4 run, Riley Hine 2-for-3 2 runs.
HR: MU – . MC – None.
3B: MU – . MC – None.
2B: MU – . MC – None.
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