Juniata nudges EJ, 4-3

MIFFLINTOWN — Rivalry week continued in Juniata County Tuesday as the East Juniata baseball team traveled to Juniata for the first time this season.

The two schools met Monday in track and field but Tuesday it would be time for the baseball squads to do battle.

The Indians came into the contest with a 5-5-1 record while the Tigers sported a 3-7 mark.

Another page of this rivalry was added as the Indians held onto a thrilling 4-3 victory.

“They (Juniata) didn’t stop. I’m very proud of them,” said Juniata coach Ty Treaster. “A lot of times you see teams will shut down and that I think in the past that we did as well. But this year, the team continues to play no matter the circumstances or result of the outcome. They just keep playing to the end.”

Picking up the win for the Indians was Daylyn Kennedy while teammate Drew Geedey picked up the save.

Taking the loss was the Tigers’ Kelton Bonnell.

Trailing 2-0 going into the fifth, the Indians Fabian Plesce started things off with a walk.

Teammate Quentin Houtz followed with a walk. Kennedy singled into left field, scoring Plesce. Geedey brought in Houtz with an RBI fielder’s choice. Kennedy stole second and scored on an RBI fielder’s choice by Bryce Harlon, giving Juniata the lead for the first time in the game.

Offensively, the Indians added an insurance run in the sixth to go ahead by two.

In their last at-bats, the Tigers refused to go away.

“It was an awesome game. They (EJ) fought to the end,” said East Juniata coach Mark Barge.

Trent Price started off the final stanza with a liner into left. While trying to steal, a pickoff attempt sailed away, sending Price to third. He later scored to pull East Juniata within one. But Bonnell would be stranded at third base as the game came to an end, giving the Indians the win.

Bonnell had the only extra-base hit of the day, blasting a towering shot over the fence.

East Juniata wasted little time jumping on the scoreboard.

Wyatt Weges led off the contest with a sizzling single to left field.

With two out, Kelton Bonnell blasted a shot over the right-center field fence, giving the Tigers a 2-0 advantage going into the bottom of the first.

On the mound, Bonnell was just as successful early on, striking out four of the first six batters he faced in the opening two innings.

Juniata had their opportunities in the third with two runners on and no one out.

In the third, Plesce was hit by a Bonnell offering. Houtz followed with a walk.

Kennedy squared around to bunt but he popped it up to Bonnell where they doubled up Houtz, killing the potential rally.

Juniata rallied to take the lead in the fifth, plating three in the inning.

EJ and Juniata will meet again later in the season for Round 2.

Juniata 4, East Juniata 3

EJ 2-0-0-0-0-0-1–3-5-1

JUN 0-0-0-0-3-1-X–4-4-4

WP: Daylyn Kennedy. LP: Kelton Bonnell. S: Drew Geedey.

Multiple hitters: EJ – None. Jun – None.

HR: EJ – Kelton Bonnell. Jun – None.

3B: EJ – None. Jun – None.

2B: EJ – None. Jun – None.