Mont Baseball are PSUAC Champs
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | X | 3 | 0 | 1 |
After Penn State Mont Alto lost 5 conference games in the first 2 weeks of the season, partially due to struggles at the plate, Head Coach Merle Guyer re-implemented his strategy, "When you are inside the lines, just go play the game!"
The team started doing just that, losing only 1 out of the next 8 games to advance to the PSUAC playoffs as the #4 seed. Having to play #1 seeded Beaver was a tall task for the first round, but thanks to pitcher Chase King they came out red hot. King pitched a complete game with 8 strike outs, allowing only 1 run, leading his team to the 2nd round of the playoffs, and beating Beaver 4-1.
The 2nd game would be just as tough, but again the pitching proved to be on point once more as Mont Alto's Nathan Topper pitched a complete game, allowing again only 1 run, and striking out 6. Mont Alto's catcher Travis Barthalow and third baseman Justin Warner both went 2 for 3, both with a double, and an RBI to help put the game away over Greater Allegheny 4-1 to advance to the PSUAC Championship Game.
In the Championship, Mont Alto would have to face #1 seeded Beaver again, after Beaver beat Penn College to advance themselves back into the Championship. It was a defensive game to start as the first 5 innings went scoreless on both sides. Mont Alto pitcher Brandon Dupert, and Beaver's pitcher Ronnie Wilkins both pitched complete games allowing only 11 hits total all game.
Again Warner stepped up legging out a triple, and driving in a run to give some run support to Dupert in the 5th, after Beaver had scored a run in the top of the inning. Mont Alto's left fielder, Cody Casey, and designated hitter, Michael Young would also help the cause with an RBI each to give them the 3-1 lead going into the top of the 6th.
Three outs were all that was standing in the way of Mont Alto taking home the trophy. Beaver would not allow them to take it without a fight. Beaver's Grant Scott drove in a run to bring Beaver to within 1, but Dupert and the Mont Alto defense would allow no further runs, going on to win the PSUAC Championship 3-2.
Mont Alto will travel to the USCAA National Championships on May 7th.
