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Juniata falls to Huntingdon in D6 playoff action

By Kenny Varner
MIFFLINTOWN – All good things must come to an end such was the case with the Juniata baseball team as they fell to a spunky Huntingdon team 5-3.
But on the road to the second round DIstrict 6 3A playoffs, the Indians left quite a list of accomplishments in its wake.
They had won their previous 10 games in-a-row to get them deep into the post season. They were just one win shy of playing in the PIAA State playoffs.
Juniata won the Tri-Valley League title against Somerset.
But they didn’t stop there, the defeated a legendary Mount Union program on its own home field to get the battle against the Bearcats.
Most impressively, they did it all despite losing seven seniors from last years’ team.
The team gelled strongly and under manager Nick Beward and company proved a lot of people wrong about his teams chances.
Back to the Bearcats, Huntingdon put the ball into the gaps when it needed it and got strong pitching performances from Ben Briggs and then later by Alex Mykut who got the save while Briggs got the victory.
Nick Holsea had the big offensive game for Huntingdon as he collected three RBI. He collected two on his one hit and one via a bases loaded walk.
Nick Zanic led the team with two hits for the Bearcats and scored twice.
Teammate Casey Conner scored twice in the contest.
Korey Martin started for the Indians and was the hard luck pitcher of the night in taking the loss.
Huntingdon took the lead in the third inning after both defenses held in the beginning two.
Conner reached on a Juniata miscue.
With 2 out, Zanic slapped a single into shallow left, putting runners on first and third.
Holsea brought both in on a deep hit that landed as a deep double.
However, the Indians’ defense got the last out and went to bat.
Being the resilient team they have been, the Indians tied the contest in the bottom of the inning.
Jamie Bailer, Zac Piper and Martin walked consecutively to load the bases with no one out.
Lead off hitter, Zack Snyder blasted a single down the third baseline and into left field scoring Bailer and a speedy Piper, knotting it at two.
Juniata held a brief lead in the game as it picked up a run in the bottom of the fourth.
Spencer Page was hit by a pitch and then moved up to second on a wild pitch.
Donovan Ranck hit a slow roller that forced the shortstop and Page to collide on the play. Page proceeded home much to the disbelief of the Huntingdon manager.
But the Bearcats would have a big inning in the top of the fifth, plating three en route to the victory.

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