PO 10Us survive marathon contest over State College to capture D5 crown

By Kenny Varner Jr.
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: July 10, 2023

By Kenny Varner

STATE COLLEGE – It was a game for the ages!

The State College girls 10Us All-Stars opened their week playing for the District 5 title as the battled a tough group from Philipsburg-Osceola team.

It was quite the pitchers duel in a game of two very deserving teams.

The game had the makings of an instant classic.

In the end, Philipsburg-Osceola would outlast State College in a 6-5 9-inning thriller!

The Lady Little Lions sent Milana Lowe to the mound facing off against PO’s Ava Cover.

The contest went deep into extras before a champion would be crowned as

Philipsburg – Osceola was the home team and went right to work in the first. Cover led things off with a hit into shallow left field.

Evie Harmic brought in Cover reaching on State College miscue.

Harmic made it 2-0 contest scoring on a fielders’ choice by Aleska Myers.

With one out, Reese McNulty got the offense going for State. She roped a grounder towards the hole at shortstop. She then stole second and moved to third on a strong defensive play by Philipsburg-Osceola pitcher Myers. Myers stopped a line drive at first and reacted and was able to dive to first to captures the second out.

McNulty stole home to cut the Lady Mountie lead to 2-1.

In the top of the second, State pitcher Lowe had her pitches working striking out all three batters she faced.

Cover returned the favor in the bottom of the inning striking out her batters in the 1-2-3 inning.

The strike out frenzy continued into the third. Lowe kept the strikes coming as she made it six strike outs in-a-row for the State College hurler.

Combined with Cover’s strike outs, the two combined for nine total strike outs heading into the bottom of the third.

Capri Larson broke up the strike out tally, hustling out an infield single for the Little Lions.

Larson stole second and moved up to third on a Philipsburg-Osceola miscue. Brooklyn Reed reached as well.

SC’s Larson tied the contest at two when she stole home. Reed moved up to third on the play home.

But the Lady Mounties settled back in and kept the game at two going into the fourth.

State College flashed a little glove in the fourth when Little Lions’ centerfielder Aubrey Mark brought down a laser shot into center, keeping the Mounties from a sure extra base hit.

State College continued to keep Philipsburg-Osceola off the base paths.

Cover continued her dominance on the mound, striking out the side 1-2-3 for the second time in the contest, giving her nine through four strong.

Both defenses were tough in the fifth, keeping the others offense off the board and tied at two.

Rylan Cartwright gave Mounties fans a little to cheer about, as she reached on a bunt attempt and moved up to second on an errant throw. But she would be stranded at second.

Reed started off the bottom of the sixth in style, smashing a hit back into the outfield for the single.

She put herself in scoring position, taking off and stealing second. She was able to take third as well, standing on the precipice of scoring the winning run.

Teammate Ellie Horner followed her on base, walking to put runners on the corners.

Horner stole second, ending the possible double-play threat.

Lowe was intentionally walked, loading the bases.

Cover notched her 13th strike out, adding to the drama.

But Cover had ice water in her veins, striking out batter number 14 and most importantly, keeping the winning run off the base and taking the game to extras.

Defense continued to perform well for State College sending down PO 1-2-3.

After two consecutive strike outs by Cover in the seventh, State College got on base. Aubrey Mark reached on a PO miscue.

Reed followed with a single, putting runners on first and second. The Little Lions again had the bases loaded and again, the Mounties were able to end the threat and continue the game to yet another inning.

With 00 on base for international tie breaker rules, Myers singled Harmic home, making it a 3-2 advantage.

She then stole second.

Teammate Mattie Bush moved her to third, hitting a fly ball that just went inside the foul line, putting runners on first and third.

Natalie Wertoish bunted herself on loading the bases with no one out.

Myers was called out at home.

Hailey Ralston brought home Bush on an infield hit, upping the PO lead to 4-2.

In the bottom of the eighth, State College started with Ellie Horner on second to start their portion of inning.

Lowe helped her own cause, hustling out an infield hit. She sent Horner to third.

Horner scored while stealing home, cutting it to a 4-3 ball game. Lowe moved up to third as the possible tying run.

Ali Serverno brought in Lowe in a soft hit to shallow center, tying the game at four.

The two preceded to inning number nine.

With two out, Cover helped her own cause doubling to left, scoring Cartwright. Cover then scored on a single by Harmic, upping the lead to 6-4.

On the play, Harmic moved up to third.

Going into the bottom of the inning the Lady Mounties held a 6-4 advantage.

Lawson started the ninth on second.

Cover struck out the first two batters she faced.

McNulty scorched a shot into left field, scoring Lawson with a stand up triple, cutting it to a 6-5 contest.

But Cover struck out the next batter, finishing with 21 strike outs on the night and most importantly, the win.

Both teams left everything they had on field and both proved worthy of their championship appearance. On this night, the Lady Mounties got the runs they needed to capture the victory.