Mifflin County clinched post season nod

By rscaife
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Updated: April 30, 2017

By Kenny Varner

LEWISTOWN – One step closer.
The Mifflin County baseball team made it one step closer to repeating their run for a second District 6 title as it cliched a district post season playoff berth as it took care of Altoona 6-1 at home on Saturday afternoon.
Mifflin County’s offense came alive posting a 9-hit effort in the victory.
The Huskies sent Ross Underhill to the mound to face off against Altoona’s hurler Jake Plunket.
Underhill was strong on the mound, scattering seven hits through seven hits in the contest and just allowed one first inning run en route to the victory.
According to Mifflin County manager Bernie Howard, it was a good way to end a busy week.
“I mentioned yesterday ( Friday) we would be back and we definitely were. I liked the effort tonight and every buddy pitched in a did a great job,” Howard said. ” with Ross Underhill on the mound, he has such a workmanlike effort on the field. I don’t think he had more than one walk and guys love playing behind somebody that is that consistent. He always keeps the ball in play. He did a great job and the defense was excellent.”
Altoona was led offensively by John Gorty who went 2-for-3 in the game.
Offensively, Mifflin County was led by Ross Underhill’s 2-for-3 one RBI and run scored afternoon. He also had a double for the Huskies’ only extra base hit.
Teammate Cade Attick also grinded out two hits and scoring a run.
In the first inning, the Mountain Lions struck first as it picked up the first score of the game.
Casey Sheetz led off with a walk and then moved up to second on a single by Gorty.
He time on the base path was a short-lived one as he scored on an RBI double to right field by Elliot Moist.
But that was all the damage that Altoona could muster.
The Mountain Lion lead was short lived as the Huskies battled back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at one.
Attick led off with a single to start the MC offense. He moved into scoring position on a Plunket wild pitch setting the stage for Underhill.
Underhill did not disapoint, smoking a double down the right line.
After holding Altoona scoreless in the second, the Mifflin County bats were just getting warmed up as the chipped out two more runs in the bottom of the inning.
With one out, Ryan Walker hit a blast to a wobbly third baseman who was playing deep in the hole. His throw to first was off line, forcing the first baseman off the bag and into the air.
On his way down, the first baseman missed the tag, allowing Walker to reach first.
Andrew Larson also took advantage of a Mountain Lion miscue and allowed runners on first and second with nobody out. Nick Hostetler also reached base on a fielders choice after Altoona forced Larson at second.
Attick loaded the bases on a walk.
Ty Bodtorf brought home Hostetler and Walker on an 2RBI single to left field.
Both teams were sent down scoreless in the third and fourth inning.
Mifflin County got back on the board in the bottom of the fifth extending the Huskies advantage to 4-1 going into the sixth.
Underhill and Maclay both scored in the inning to increase the Mifflin County lead to 5-1.
But it would be the bottom of the sixth that would put the boys one step closer to win the game, clinching the victory.
“We had some very good clutch hitting today from several people so it all added up to a real nice win against a very tough District 6 6A team,” Howard added. “Now we will definitely make the District 6 6A playoffs.”