JS/GSV wins state tourney opener in Major Baseball

CRANBERRY - Jersey Shore/GSV's Matt Marshall, Taylor Potter, and Eric Huling all homered, stunning Mifflin County early.

JS/GSV?then held off Mifflin County later on in a 6-4 win in the first game of the western half of the Little?League Major Baseball state tournament Friday night.

Mifflin County's rally included a three-run home run by Aaron Snook to deep center in the third inning. But relief pitcher Boone Costa held Mifflin County to just one hit over the last 2 2/3 innings to seal the win.

This wasn't the game Mifflin County manager Mike Hannon wanted to start with, as he said the two teams befriended each other in last year's state tourney.

"We hit the ball hard, just right at people," said Hannon. "They got it out of the park."

Mifflin County had several strong innings off both Costa and starting pitcher Dylan Hamm, but never tied the game and stranded six runners. JS/GSV?didn't have that problem with the three homers in the first two innings for a 5-0 lead.

"They couldn't have come at a better time," said JS/GSV?manager Steve Huling. "I had said most of the time through sectionals that I didn't think we had reached our peak in hitting. I think we did that in this game and started to turn a corner. We had a good practice the other night, and the boys hit the ball well. I was pleased with the way they fought through this game because (Mifflin County) is an excellent, excellent hitting team. Since we've started, they are the best hitting team we've seen.

Marshall's first-inning home run scored Trey Newcomer and Brody Smith, who both singled off Mifflin County starter Drew Hannon.

Potter homered to right in the second. Eric Huling followed with a solo shot two batters later.

"We have three pitchers that are all pretty even," Mike Hannon said. "We don't have a No. 1 pitcher, we have three. We looked at the runs, and what we should have done was start a lefty."

JS/GSV?made it 6-4 in the fifth when Newcomer scored on a grounder that scooted through the second baseman's legs.

Snook's three-run homer closed the gap to 5-4 in the third inning. A bad throw to second base on a prior play allowed Lucas McKay to score the team's first run.

Today, the pool play continues for both teams as Mifflin County will take on Warren and JS/GSV will meet Moon Twp. at 1 and Mifflin County meets Warren at 4. Moon beat Warren 8-6 on a walk-off home run in the other game Friday.

JS/GSV 320 010-6 6 0

Mifflin County 004 000-4 8 1

J: Dylan Hamm, Boone Costa (4) and Ryan Yost. M: Drew Hannon, Peyton Reesman (3) and Timmy Pearce, Max Remy (4) and Pearce (5). WP ? Hamm (4-0). LP ?

Hannon. HR: J, Matt Marshall, Taylor Potter, Eric Huling. M, Aaron Snook. MH: M, Hannon 2, Isaiah Kearns 2, Snook 2. Records: J 10-0, M 11-3.