Eagles use big inning to get much-needed win

Mirror photo by Michael Boytim

B-A’s Zach Pier waits on a throw to complete a double play as Tyrone’s Ryan Light races to first base.

By Michael Boytim

mboytim@altoonamirror.com

TYRONE — Tyrone hasn’t put many crooked numbers on the scoreboard this season, but in a game the Golden Eagles needed to have on senior night against rival Bellwood-Antis at the Harry K. Sickler Athletic Complex on Wednesday, everything finally came together.

For an inning, at least.

Trailing by a run going into the bottom of the fourth inning, Tyrone strung together four of its five hits in the game, drew three walks and Landon Postreich was hit by a pitch. The result was a five-run inning for the Golden Eagles, all Postreich needed on the mound in a 5-3 complete-game victory.

“I hate that it was just one inning, because that shows we haven’t completely broken out of our slump,” Tyrone coach Kevin Soellner said. “But, they did put it together there. It was the whole lineup. It wasn’t just a couple hot guys there. They all went up and did a job. They are buying into it a little better.”

Bellwood-Antis starting pitcher Chris Walls got the first out of the bottom of the fourth inning, but A.J. Coleman and Brandon McClure followed with back-to-back walks. Owen Oakes tied the game on an RBI single, and Postreich’s hit by pitch loaded the bases before Gayge Miller’s two-run, go-ahead single. Wyatt Kustenborder singled next to set up Ryan Light’s RBI single that made it 5-1.

“That’s been a problem for us, the one bad inning,” Bellwood-Antis coach Nate Plummer said. “This was a great defensive game. These guys played their hearts out and didn’t give up. It just comes down to getting timely hits.”

The Blue Devils did get a few timely at bats to inch closer in the fifth inning after a pair of Tyrone errors.

Chase Plummer brought home Tanner Swogger on a sacrifice fly, and Zach Pier followed with an RBI single that made it 5-3, but Postreich retired the final seven batters of the game in order.

“This feels good, because we have been in a slump all year,” Postreich said. “It feels good to have that winning feeling back.”

One of three Tyrone seniors honored Wednesday along with Coleman and Light, Postreich did not allow an earned run, gave up just six hits and threw just 85 pitches in going the distance and picking up the win.

“I think he probably could have kept his pitch count under 70 without some errors in the field,” Soellner said. “He definitely did what he needed to do and went after batters like we asked him to do. I’m happy with him.”

Both Tyrone (4-6) and Bellwood-Antis (6-6) are fighting for a spot in the District 6 Class 3A and 2A playoffs, respectively.

“We have to keep improving,” Soellner said. “We have to get better each week, each game. Today was a better step from the way we have been playing. It was a big step.”

Though the Golden Eagles, who won a state championship in 2021 and made the PIAA playoffs last season, enter each season with bigger goals, beating their nearby rival remains high on the list.

“It is one of our main goals,” Soellner said. “We always have Bellwood, then the rest of the teams we play. They are a real good young team that’s going to be around. They have hung with some of the better teams in the area, so it’s good to beat Bellwood.”

Matt Berkowitz went 2-for-3 with a double and run scored for the Blue Devils, and freshman Alex McCartney threw 2…” innings of scoreless, hitless ball in relief.

“This team has been resilient,” Plummer said. “They never give up or stay down on themselves. They have played their hearts out, and that’s all you can ask for. We’re going to keep going and work towards our playoff goal. We’ll keep battling.”

Bellwood-Antis is playing an entirely new schedule this year in the new Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference that also includes the former Mountain League after B-A left the Inter-County Conference.

“It’s been a little different,” Plummer said. “It’s not that the competition is that much better. We played good competition in the ICC. Coming into the Laurel Highlands, it’s a dog-eat-dog attitude. We have to come out ready to play every single day.”

BELLWOOD-ANTIS (3): C. Swogger c 401, Plummer 2b 200, Pier 1b 301, Cacciotti 3b 300, Walls p 000, McCartney p 000, Berkowitz dh 312, Dorminy cf 300, T. Swogger rf 311, Gonzalez ss 300, Cobaugh lf 211. Totals — 26-3-6.

TYRONE (5): Kustenborder rf 311, Light lf 201, Walk ss 201, Hamer c 300, Coleman cf 210, B. McClure 3b 210, C. McClure 1b 000, Oakes dh 311, Postreich p 200, Lehner cr 000, Miller 2b 311. Totals — 22-5-5.

SCORE BY INNINGS

Bellwood-Antis 010 020 0–3 6 1

Tyrone 000 500 X–5 5 3

E–Pier, Miller 3. 2B–Berkowitz. RBI–Plummer, Pier; Miller 2, Oakes, Light. SB–Walk, Coleman.

PITCHING

Bellwood-Antis: Walls (L)–3 2/3IP, 5H, 3BB, 2HBP, 1K, 5R, 5ER, 76 pitches; McCartney–2 1/3IP, 0H, 1BB, 2K, 0R, 0ER, 35 pitches.

Tyrone: Postreich (W)–7 IP, 6H, 1BB, 3K, 3R, 0ER, 85 pitches.

Records: Bellwood-Antis (6-6); Tyrone (4-6).