East Juniata uses 9-run sixth inning to take the comeback win over the Wolves

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: March 24, 2025

By Kenny Varner

STATE COLLEGE – Slow and steady wins the race.

Monday afternoon the East Juniata baseball team traveled to State College to battle the undefeated (2-0) St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy in Tri-Valley League action.

What looked like a runaway early for the Wolves proved to be just a slight bump in the road for the Tigers as they talked back from a 9-2 deficit to rally late and capture the come from behind victory 14-10 as the contest was called on the count of darkness.

With the win, East Juniata clinched its first win of the season.

“They came back! I am proud of them all. They waited on their pitch and this is what the results are,” said East Juniata coach Mark Barge. “They hung in there.”

Picking up the win on the mound was Kelton Bonnell. Bonnell came to the mound in the third and kept the Wolves at bay allowing just one run on two hits during his tenure on the mound.

Taking the loss for St. Joseph’s was CJ Grove.

East Juniata found itself trailing 10-5 going into the top of the sixth.

Patience at the plate had paid off for the Tigers as they would rally for a 9-run inning to leap frog the Wolves and take their first lead of the ball game.

Starting off the rally was Owen Messimer who was plunked by a Grove pitch.

With one out, Austin Shearer reached base on a miscue by St. Joseph’s, putting runners on the corners.

Hunter Shafferman loaded the bases on a walk, setting the stage for teammate Ian Drukenmiller. Drukenmiller took one for the team as he was also hit by a pitch, scoring Messimer.

Shearer scored the second run of the inning as he scored on a wild pitch, closing the gap to 10-7.

Wyatt Weges was later hit as well, reloading the bases after Shearer scored.

With the bases reloaded, Shafferman took advantage of a passed ball to make it just a two-run Wolves lead.

Nathan Carolus cut the lead to one as she blasted a single into left field, scoring Drukenmiller.

Weges later scored on a throwing error by the Wolves catcher, tying the contest.

Bonnell helped his own cause as he walked to put runners on the corners with two out in the inning. He later stole second, putting him also in scoring position.

Messimer posted the biggest hit of the inning as he blasted a 2-run single into center, scoring his two teammates putting his team ahead for the first time in the game at 12-10.

East Juniata wasn’t done yet as they scored two runs on two errors, heading into the bottom of the sixth.

With the sun slowly going down under the mountains and darkness set in, the umpires gave the Wolves one last bat before calling the game for darkness.

Bonnell and his defense finished the game quickly sending down the home team in order in the inning, giving them their first win of the season in a dramatic ending.

East Juniata 14, St. Joseph’s 10 (called for darkness)

EJ 011 219 x – 14 5 6

SJ 207 100 x – 10 10 8

WP: Kelton Bonnell

LP: CJ Grove

HR: EJ – None , SJ – None.

3B: EJ – None, SJ – Caleb Foytack .

2B: EJ – Wyatt Weges , SJ – None.

Multiple hitters: EJ – O Messimer 2-for-4, 2 runs, 3RBIs, SJ – Foytack 2-for-4, run, RBI, Braeden Miller 3-for-4, RBI, 2 runs.