MC softball rallies back from three down to top SC

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: April 16, 2021

Photo by Kathy Reed
By Kenny Varner

LEWISTOWN – Less than 24 hours after taking on defending state champion Central Dauphin, the MIfflin County softball team had to deal with rival State College in a Friday afternoon battle.

The game had a little bit of everything a fan of softball loves, there were home runs, clutch hits, numerous strike outs, a lead change and a thwarted come back attempt.

In the end, the Huskies got strong performances out of three of its pitcher to take home an 8-5 victory.

The combination of hurlers Leesha Shilling, DeVanie Condrack and Maddison Wolfgang. The trio combined for 14 strike outs on the afternoon.

Condrack had eight strikeouts, Shilling had two and Wolfgang had four clutch strike outs to pick up the save.

Zia Bodner had seven strike outs in her time on mound.

MIfflin County got strong performances at the plate by MacKenzie Burdge who had two hits for the Lady Huskies. Alexis O’Brien had three RBIs while teammate Gianna Hoppel had two.

State College was led at the plate by Olivia McTavish, who had three hits home run, double and three RBIs.

McTavish got her team on the board on her first at bat as she took a Shilling offering and hit one over the fence, making it a 1-0 advantage after one.

State College added two more in the second.

Meredith Meengs started off the inning with a walk and moved up to third on a Ella McDyre sacrifice bunt.

Bodner reached on a fielder’s choice that allowed runners on the corners.

She then scored on a 2RBI single to center by McTavish upping the Little Lion lead to 3-0.

But the Huskies rallied back in the bottom of the second.

Josie Kibe led off the inning with a walk. Burge roped her first hit to move Kibe to third.

Jaylyn Moore took one fir the team as she was hit by a Bodner offering, loading the bases.

With one out, Kibe scored and Alexis O’Brien reached base on a State College miscue.

Caitlyn Kick walked to load the bases once again.

With two outs, Hoppel hit a bloop single that scored two, tying the game at three.

Kick later scored on an error by the catcher on a throw back to third, giving the Lady Huskies the 4-3 advantage.

Things would remain at 4-3 deep unto the game.

But in the bottom of the fifth, MIfflin County added some breathing room for itself.

With Condrack in in relief for Shilling, she was setting State College up and sending them down, striking out eight.

Alyssa Souders led off the fifth with a walk.

Burge singled to right field advancing Souders to third.

Condrack was hit on her throwing hand, allowing her to take her base.

She was replaced on the base path by Wolfgang.

Souders scored on another Little Lion miscue.

O’Brien hit a 2RBI double to right. She then advanced to third.

When the inning ended, MIfflin County upped its lead to 7-3 going into the sixth.

State College cut the lead to two as they notched two before bringing Wolfgang to relieve Condrack.

Wolfgang struck out Logan Soltis with the bases loaded, getting MIfflin County out of a jam.

In the bottom of the sixth, Burdge’s double brought in Kibe to add to its lead to 8-5.

Wolfgang gave up an opening walk to start the top of the seventh but never looked back as she sent down the next three State College batters to pick up the save while Condrack got the win.