Huntingdon Mustangs, Fillies Claim State Runner-Up Title

MURFREESBORO (May 24) — After four days of intense action that included weather delays and a round-robin of venues, the Huntingdon Mustangs and Fillies claimed state runner-up titles in baseball and softball for Class 2A. In a double-elimination format, both teams made it to Friday’s round unscathed.

The Mustangs drew Loretto High School in the championship round losing 4-3. While the Fillies took on Liberty Creek High School losing 1-0.

Coming into the championship game, the Mustangs defeated Smith County 10-0, Riverside 8-1 and Riverside a second time 14-3. The Fillies defeated Westmoreland 2-0, Meigs County 2-0 and Riverside 6-1.

Huntingdon Mustangs 3, Loretto Mustangs 4
Despite out-hitting Loretto five to four, Huntingdon fell 4-3 on Friday.

Broox Bennett, Gray Eubanks, Braylon Rich, Silas Sharp, and Brady Warbritton each collected one hit for the Mustangs.

Sawyer Raines was the starting pitcher for Huntingdon, allowing two hits and one run over one and one-third innings, striking out one and walking three. Eubanks came in and pitched three and two-thirds innings. He allowed two hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out two and walking four. Graham Bartholomew closed the game.

Loretto was the first to get on the board in the first inning when Mason Tidwell hit a solo home run to left field. Rich hit a sacrifice fly, which brought Warbritton around from second, tying the game at one in the top of the third.

A tag up by Jackson Traglia gave Loretto the lead, 2-1, in the bottom of the fourth.

In the fifth inning, Carter Daniel hit a two-run RBI double to right field scoring Clint Seymore and Tidwell giving Loretto a 4-1 lead.

Down but not out, the Mustangs brought it to within one run in the sixth inning. Rich doubled off a line drive to right field. Then, Bennett singled to left field. Bartholomew advanced the runners after grounding out. Sharp hit the two RBI single to left as Huntingdon trailed 4-3.

Huntingdon couldn’t produce the necessary run to tie in the seventh as Loretto claimed the 2A Baseball State Championship. This was Huntingdon’s eighth appearance in the state tournament and second runner-up.

Huntingdon Fillies 0, Liberty Creek Wolves 1
The Huntingdon Fillies and Liberty Creek Wolves game was a battle from the circle. For the Fillies, Natalie Kreuziger had faced 22 batters, striking out six. She threw 77 pitches for 46 strikes giving up one hit and two walks. Liberty Creek’s Kaylor West pitched a perfect game allowing zero hits and zero runs over seven innings, striking out five. This was the first perfect game in eight years and the fifth perfect game in state tournament history.

Liberty Creek took an early lead in the second inning when Maisen Lewis doubled, scoring one run. This was the Fillies’ tenth appearance in the state tournament and best finish as the runner-up.

More details on the Spring Fling will be available in a June 4 congratulatory section.