MC comeback attempt was strong but they fall late to CM

By rscaife
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Updated: March 27, 2018

By Kenny Varner
MILL HALL – In it’s first game of the season, the Mifflin County baseball team showed some very positive signs against a veteran Central Mountain team Monday night at Mill Hall.
Despite falling on a controversial play in the bottom of the seventh 4-3, the new faces showed the same heart that is predecessors have in past years overcoming a 3-0 early deficit.
Pitcher Isaac Matthews settled in after a shaky first inning and finished giving up three runs, four hits, and 10 strike outs in a six inning start.
“He (Matthews) got stronger as he went along. I talked to coach Gearhart, our pitching coach, and he said to me Isaac’s got that curve working tonight and he had a big smile on his face,” Mifflin County coach Bernie Howard said. “And he did! There was no denying it. He just got better and better.”
Offensively, Brian Yetter shined for the Huskies as he went 2-for-3, wrapping a double and a triple and collected two RBIs.
Going into the top of the seventh, the two teams found themselves knotted at three.
Unfortunately for the Huskies they were unable to push anything across.
Central Mountain was down to its last at bats and with a little help from a questionable call was able to take the contest in their last at bats.
Mifflin County went to Jared Hannon in the seventh.
He started strong,forcing Austyn Carson to fly out to the first baseman Tyreen Smalley.
Trevor Hanna gave the Wildcats
Something to cheer about when he walked. Teammate Asher Corl also walked putting runners on first and second with one out.
Mahlik Houtz lined a shot that tipped off the glove of a jumping Evan Mock, loading the bases.
Aaron Swartz hit a grounder to the infield and the throw to home looked to have Hanna on the force play but the call was declared safe as it was stated by Home plate umpire said the ball was juggled.
After Mifflin County argued the call but to no avail.
After falling behind 3-0 after the first inning, Mifflin County started to grind its way back into the ball game.
Yetter got the inning going leading off with a double into deep left field.
With one out, catcher Aaron Kanagy smoked a single into right field that scored Yetter, cutting it to 3-1.
After keeping the Wildcats off the board, Mifflin County was back in business in the top of the fifth, where the upstart Huskies found a way to tie the game.
Max Oburn got the inning going on the right foot when he belted a double into left.
Matthews then helped his own cause with a walk, putting runners on first and second with no one out.
That set the stage for Yetter to bring his team back.
He did not disappoint.
His triple sailed deep over the right fielder, allowing both Matthews and Oburn to score, tying it at three.
Mifflin County attempted to score Yetter minutes later on a suicide squeeze play but he was gunned down in the process.
The game would remain tied until the final at bats.
However, Howard was happy with his total team effort.
“If we play this good,” Howard said. “We’re going to be fine.”