Foxpro and Spike Island split in double header

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: June 19, 2023

By Joshua Yoder
LEWISTOWN – Both Foxpro as well as Spike Island looked honor Father’s Day with some CCBL baseball double header on Sunday and did not disappoint.
In game one the Pirates went on a tear offensively within the first two innings of the game. Spike Island scored six runs in those two innings.
The next time the Pirate bats went going again was in the top half of the sixth inning where they added three runs in the frame. Spike Island had three runs scored with an RBI double thanks to Allen Myers, Jeremy Whitehead and Ryan Whitehead to make it a 10-2 lead.
But the Predators were not going away quietly as in the bottom of the seventh inning. Foxpro dropped four runs in the frame starting with a three run home run by Isaiah Kearns that also brought home Evan Pupo and Mark Shilling Jr. Jaxson Pupo reached on an error at short before being brought home by a Hayden Snook single. But it was as close as the Predators would able to get as the Pirates took game one by the final score of 10-6.
Ryan Whitehead went five innings on the mound and collected 10 strikeouts and walked two batters before handing the ball over Jake Belinda who finished off the final two innings with a strikeout and three walks.
Landon McDonald went 2-for-4 at the plate with both hits being doubles, had three runs scored and one RBI. Allen Myers, Brandon Myers, Ryan Whitehead and Bubba Slogosky also had multiple hits.
The Predators were led by Evan Pupo who was 3-for-4. Isaiah Kearns had one hit which was the three run homer while Colby Bodtorf, Jaxson Pupo and Hayden Snook also had a hit in the game.
Foxpro struggled on the mound and went through four different pitchers throughout the game. Connor Cherry pitched the first inning and two-thirds innings before Kearns took over and went the next three and a third innings with six strikeouts and one walk. Dan Brundage and Snook then finished off the final two innings.
However, in game number two, the Predators only needed one pitcher to get them through in the form of former Mifflin County pitcher Tristin Lockett. Through the seven inning s of work, Lockett had nine strikeouts and had three walks.
For a while, only one run was scored for most of the game which was scored by Foxpro when the bases loaded were loaded, Brundage was hit by a pitch which drove in Evan Pupo.
But then things finally got going at the plate for the Pirates during the top half of the fifth inning where they had runners on second and third after a passed ball and Bubba Slogosky made them pay with a two RBI single to left scoring both Mike Kitko and Carson Jones to give them a 2-1 lead.
But the Predators kept their eyes on the prize as then in the bottom half of the same inning. Foxpro responded with three runs of their own. Jaxson Pupo got it started with a led off walk which set the stage for Isaiah Kearns.
Pupo and Kearns looked to do a hit run play. But it ended up being Kearns hitting the ball and the ball ran out of left center field for a two run shot and gave Foxpro a 3-2 lead. David Hartlzer added on one more run with a single that brought home Ty Hunter to make it 4-2.
Spike Island made it interesting though in the top of the seventh and had runners on second and third with two outs. But Lockett managed to Ryan Kephart to ground out to short for the final out and secure the 4-2 victory.
Kearns led the Predators in game two and went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a home run. Evan Pupo, Snook, Josh Rosefsky, Hartzler, Landon Black and Lockett all had a hit in the game.
For Spike Island, they were led by Jeremy Whitehead, Mike Kitko, Slogosky and Ryan Whitehead who all had one hit for game two.
Kitko pitched four and a third innings with six strikeouts and three walks. Slogosky finshed the final one and two-thirds innings with one strikeout and two walks.
Foxpro will travel to do battle with the Spring Mills Braves while Spike Island will host the Howard Hawks. Both games will be on Tuesday.