Juniata picks up clutch win over Millersburg

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: April 13, 2022

Photos by Bob Hockenbrock

MIFFLINTOWN – The Juniata Indians got the hits when they needed them most and the timely hitting carried them over Millersburg by the final score of 9-5 in a Tri-Valley League baseball game Wednesday afternoon.

Juniata got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second inning where with two outs and two runners in scoring position. Carson Kepner came to the plate and on a two, one pitch jacked one to left center field that brought home, Jordan Dickinson and Colten Garver to up 2-0.

However, Millersburg responded in the top half of the third inning to take the lead starting with the bases loaded and no outs. Mason Engle came to the plate and grounded out to second base but managed to bring in Kyle Long to cut the lead down to 2-1.

Then the next batter was Chase Grassmyer who fell behind 0-2 on the count before hitting one into right that scored both Brandon Snyder and Nick Lobinski to make it a 3-2 ballgame.

But Juniata refused to give up and continued to battle as in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Indians had two outs, runners on and Dawson Harper at the plate and on a 2-1 count, Harper let a rip to center field that scored Garver and Kepner while Harper hustled all the way to third base for a two RBI triple.

The Juniata bats didn’t stop there as in the bottom half of the fifth, the Indians added on three more runs in the frame. Garver got it started in the inning with a double to left that brought in Seth Laub before Louden Sheaffer hit a single to left field that scored Grant Reinhold and Garver to make it 7-3.

The Indians tacked on two more run in the bottom of the sixth with a single to right from Jacob Condo that scored Josh Bomberger to make it 8-3 before Reinhold hit a single to left that brought in Condo before Reinhold tried to stretch it for a double but was thrown out for the third out.

With the score 9-3 heading into the top of the seventh inning, Millersburg wasn’t going to go away quietly as in the inning, Millersburg scored two runs in the frame thanks to a single to right field from Mitchell Falkrod that scored both Engle and Grassmyer.

But the Juniata defense came through with a big double play started by third baseman Garver who threw out Brandon Fetterhoff at first, but then first baseman Dickinson then fired back to third to catch Falkrod to complete the double play to end the game.

That wasn’t the first big play the Juniata defense made throughout the game, especially Garver at third base who prevented multiple chances from keeping Millersburg out of the scoreboard.

Bomberger got the start for Juniata and threw 100 pitches in six innings of work with three strikeouts and three walks. Kepner then finished off the game.

Juniata had nearly all of its players in the lineup had at least a hit into the game with four of those batters in Harper, Bomberger, Reinhold and Garver each having multiple hit games.

Juniata remains unbeaten at (4-0, 3-0) and will look to keep the winning ways going today as the Indians will travel to face the Greenwood Wildcats.

Juniata 9, Millersburg 5
Millersburg 003 000 2 5-9-0
Juniata 020 232 x 9-13-2
WP: Josh Bomberger. LP: Kyle Long. SO: Bomberger 3 (J); Long 4 (M). BB: Bomberger 3 (J); Long 3 (M). 3B: Dawson Harper (J). 2B: Bomberger, Jordan Dickinson, Colten Garver, Carson Kepner (J); Brandon Snyder (M). MH: Harper 2-4, Bomberger 2-4, Grant Reinhold 2-2, Garver 2-2 (J); Snyder 2-4, Mason Engle 2-4 (M). RBI: Harper 2, Jacob Condo, Garver, Louden Sheaffer 2, Kepner 2, Reinhold (J); Daniel Shoop 2, Chase Grassmyer 2 (M).