In the past two years, when the Tyrone Legion plays Juniata VFW, the game tends to be decided by one run. Tyrone took the season opener 7-6 on May 25, but nearly a month later, it was Juniata VFW striking back with a 6-5 win in the bottom of the seventh inning.
When Ryan Beasom scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning, it ended a game that featured a rollercoaster of emotions.
Leading 4-2 heading into the final inning, Juniata VFW nearly gave up a game-tying home run to Tyler Gillmen, but left fielder Marcus Townsend reached over the fence to rob the Tyrone center fielder.
Moments later, Tyler Hoover sent a 3-1 delivery from Beasom over Townsend’s head and the fence to tie the game.
“Hoover put a great swing on that ball,” Tyrone Legion Manager Mike Boytim said. “He nearly hit one out against ReMax Monday, but just got under it. We moved him up in the order, because he has been making great contact lately and hitting a game-tying home run with two outs is about as big as it gets.”
Tyrone was playing from behind thanks to unfulfilled opportunities early in the game. Justin Schopp singled to lead things off in the first inning, and Shayne Tate followed by drawing a walk. Gillmen singled to load the bases, but Tyrone managed only one run, on a Tyler Golden sacrifice fly.
Juniata VFW captured the lead in the second inning with two unearned runs off Tyrone starter Jamie Levinson. Levinson went the distance for Tyrone and did not allow an earned run.
The Tyrone Legion rallied in the third to take the lead 3-2. Tate ripped a double down the left field line and scored on a Hoover single. Golden reached on an error, and with two outs Jesse Hertzler gave Tyrone the lead with a RBI double. Golden would have scored on the play, but tripped rounding second.
Juniata VFW tied it in the bottom of the fourth inning and took the lead in the fifth. With two outs, Levinson hit a batter. After a single, runners stood at first and third before Beasom, on first, stole second. Boytim opted to walk star slugger Wes Plummer intentionally, but a routine grounder hit by Townsend on the next pitch became Tyrone’s fifth of seven errors.
The final nail in the Legion’s coffin came in the bottom of the seventh when Beasom reached on an error, and scored two batters later when the throw to first was over Hoover’s head.
“It’s extremely disappointing that we played such bad defense behind Jamie tonight,” Boytim said. “He was really on his game despite pitching on short rest, and I feel absolutely awful that he had to take a loss in this game.”
The Tyrone Legion returns to action Friday when they host Martin Oil. The first pitch is slated to be thrown at 6 p.m.
Sprankle’s Auto Outlet Notes: Hoover’s home run was the Legion’s third this year… Tate hit second in the order for the first time… The seven errors are the second most made by Tyrone this year next to a nine-error performance against Dick’s Pharmacy.
Juniata VFW 6 Tyrone Legion 5
TYRONE LEGION – Schopp, c, 3-2-1; Tate, lf, 3-1-1; Gillmen, cf, 4-0-1; Hoover, 1b, 4-2-2; Golden, ss, 3-0-1; Levinson, p, 3-0-0; Hertzler, 3b, 3-0-2; Morrow, rf, 3-0-0; Lynn, 2b, 3-0-1. TOTALS 29-5-9.
JUNIATA VFW – Eck, cf, 4-0-2; Partner, ss, 2-1-0; Beasom, 1b-p, 4-1-1; Plummer, p-1b, 3-2-2; Townsend, lf, 4-0-1; Carruthers 2b, 2-0-0; Payne, c, 3-0-0; Napoli, cr, 0-1-0; Briggs, rf, 3-1-2; Jacobs, 3b, 1-0-0; Moshella, 3b, 2-0-0. TOTALS 28-6-8.
Tyrone Legion 102 000 1 5-9-7
Juniata VFW 020 111 1 6-8-1
HR: Hoover
2B: Tate, Hertzler.
RBI: Hoover 3, Golden, Hertzler.
SO: Levinson 9, Plummer 5, Beasom 3.
BB: Levinson 3, Plummer 1, Beasom 1.
WP: Beasom LP: Levinson.
