Flashback: Mifflin County uses last second heroics to top Bellefonte

By Kenny Varner
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Updated: June 20, 2015

By Kenny Varner

LEWISTOWN – A perfect storm hit the baseball field in Lewistown during the Bellefonte Bandits and Mifflin County Legion teams Thursday afternoon.
After sailing along unscathed for five consecutive innings,Bellefonte looked to be on its way to knocking off the once-beaten Mifflin County team but a pinch hit by Ross Underhill and a hit by lead off man Zach Hostetler proved to be the beginning of the end for the Bandits.
Minutes later a fielding miscue and two more runs by Mifflin County found time enough for a severe rain storm to hit consequently ending the game on the spot with the home team securing a 3-2 hard fought victory.
The Bandits got a strong outing by pitcher David Keller as he went the distance allowing just four hits with half of them coming in the sixth. He struck out a game-high seven strike outs.
Defensively, the Bandits had two errors in a losing effort.
Bellefonte notched its runs in the third and fourth innings, taking the lead into what would be Mifflin County’s final at bats.
Mifflin County got a strong performance on the mound as well as Ross Torquato gave up one earned run and allowed just four hits while striking out six.
After both teams went scoreless in the first two innings, the Bandits rallied to pick up one.
Zach Musser led things off by Hustling out an infield single and moved up to second on a base hit by teammate Reese Lucas.
Mifflin County made their first and only error of the game as they tried to throw out a hustling Lucas at second. The miss at second allowed Lucas to score, making it 1-0.
However, despite having runners in scoring position, Mifflin County shut down the Bandits offense allowing just one run.
Keller and company cruised through Mifflin County’s part of the third, sending the batters down without a run.
Storm Smith started out the top of the fourth by blowing past first on another infield hit.
After a hit batsman, a sacrifice bunt and a walk, Smith found his way home via an RBI sacrifice fly by Musser.
From there as the night creeped in and the clouds started to churn towards Lewistown, both pitchers took control and handled the batters decisively until Mifflin County came up with its last at bats and ending the momentum Bellefonte had.
Pinch hitter Underhill slapped a single into the outfield.
Hostetler followed with a punching shot to the grass as well.
Disaster hit as Cade Attick hit a grounder to the pitcher and it was misthrown at third, allowing Underhill to score and Hostetler to advance.
That was the opening Mifflin County was looking for as Lucas McKay grounded into an RBI fielders choice, scoring Hostetler and sending Attick to third, just 90 feet from taking the lead.
John Michael Maclay made sure he wouldn’t be stranded, roping a shot into deep centerfield,allowing Mifflin County the lead.
Minutes later a lightning flash struck against the night air and Mother Nature continued to thunder and flash her might, ending the game there and giving Mifflin county the hard fought come from behind win and giving the Bandits an empty feeling.