CENTRE COUNTY — The Milesburg Iron Kings exploded for 12 runs in the first inning on their way to a convincing 22-3 mercy-rule win over the Happy Valley Hellbenders in Centre County Baseball League play on a windy Thursday night at the State College Teener League Field.
The big first inning for the Iron Kings was highlighted by three home runs including a grand slam by center fielder Felix Oquendo. After a Gavin Fravel double, Levi Yarnell hit the first of his two home runs on the night to extend the Iron Kings’ first-inning lead to a dozen.
The home runs continued in the second inning for Milesburg as Tim Shawley took a 1-1 pitch from Happy Valley pitcher Sean Cooper and drove it over the center-field fence for the team’s third home run in the first two innings.
Happy Valley finally got on the board in the bottom of the second when an error scored Alex Levis. Lee Wright followed with a fly ball that fell between three Iron Kings fielders in shallow center field to score two more runs, cutting the lead to 13-3. That was as close as Happy Valley would get as Milesburg scored six times in the top of the third to expand its lead to 20-3.
In the six-run third inning, Levi Yarnell hit his second home run of the game for Milesburg. When asked what he was looking for at the plate, Yarnell said, “Just fastballs, just hunting fastballs and trying to make contact.”
Happy Valley threatened one more time in the bottom of the third, but pitcher Gavin Fravel got Alex Blesh to ground out with two runners in scoring position. The home runs continued for Milesburg as Watt Probst hit his first of the game and the team’s fourth. The Iron Kings then added one more run on an error to increase the lead to 19. Tim Shawley came into the game in relief of Fravel and struck out two batters to secure the victory for Milesburg. Shawley and Kelvin Probst also homered in the game, giving the team six total home runs on the night while leadoff hitter Lawson Newsweinder contributed to win with 4 hits.
Milesburg has now won two of its last three games and Yarnell said that hitting the way they did tonight definitely helps, saying, “Once one person hits, it’s kind of like a moving train where everyone starts hitting.”
For Happy Valley, Lee Wright and Alex Levis each had two hits with Wright also driving in two runs. Happy Valley remained winless on the season.
In other action for both teams, the Hellbenders hosted Mifflin County FoxPro before traveling to Milesburg for a rematch of Thursday night’s game.
In addition to the rematch with Happy Valley, the Iron Kings traveled to Philipsburg to take on Spike Island and then hosted the Spring Mills Braves at Community Park in Milesburg.
