Bishop McCort at Somerst May 3.

        The two best teams in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference squared off at Somerset Thursday afternoon in the "de facto" conference championship. Both teams have multiple games next week, but in the end this Laurel Highlands match up featured two powerhouses with only one conference loss a piece. The game lived to the billing as the host Golden Eagles held off the Crimson Crushers in a well played 6-4 game that featured a playoff atmosphere game. The two offenses had 10 hits a piece, but it was the defensive play, and clutch hits for Somerset that ultimately decided this game.
            The Crushers struck first in the game as Christian Leech roped a double and was later played by a Justin Vardian single. Senior Pitcher Jesse Cooper helped out his own cause by driving in a run in the same inning, but the Crushers rally was stalled when Justin Vardian was gunned out at the plate. Somerset was able to respond in the bottom half of the inning when the Golden Eagles got the bases loaded and a Tanner Stull single brought in a run, but the were bases remained loaded as Somerset could only muster one run. Somerset was able to redeem themselves in the bottom of the third when Brent Barron drilled a two RBI double and later scored himself on Michael Flyte single to set the score at 4-2. The score remained the same as both starters settled down and worked themselves out of jam after jam.  Jesse Cooper for Bishop McCort threw a complete game and surrendered six, whereas Somerset starter Ian Stiffler went the distance himself. The Crushers were able to strike for a run in the fifth when Christian Leech drove in Nathan Neiderhiser on a single. The game got very intense and interesting as the sixth rolled around. The Crushers first two batters went down easily when Jesse Cooper laced a single and stole a base to set himself into scoring position. Nathan Neiderhiser came up and hit a single to shallow Center, the Eagles Centerfielder, Michael Flyte,  rifled a bullet for a play at the plate, and Cooper used some acrobatics to avoid the tag and tie the game up at 4-4. The stage was set for a dramatic finish.  The Eagles were able to load the bases on two hit batsmen by Cooper, and an intentional walk was issued to ever dangerous Drew Hemminger.  Somerset Head Coach, Steve Coastea turned to freshmen Bryce Mosteller to pinch hit, and he responded with a two run single. That hit set the score at 6-4 heading into McCort's last plate appearence.  The 14-2 Crimson Crushers certainly made things interesting. Luke Williams was hit by a pitch, and Jimmy Stenger followed that up with a single. The next play turned out to be disastrous for the Crushers as the runner on second happened to be right where the ball was hit and it allowed for an easy 6-3 Double Play.

       The game had all the makings of a playoff atmosphere. Ian Stiffler and Jesse Cooper both turned in great outings. The offenses each had 10 hits and the game showed some fine defense all around. Somerset looks poised for a good run in the AAA playoffs, as McCort does in the A ranks. Somerset will have to face some stiff competition in Holidaysburg and Forest Hills. Bishop McCort will have to deal with Bishop Guilfoyle and Homer Center. The setting was great for Baseball, as Somerset's recently renovated facility looked great. The fans were intense and active. The LHAC has two very good teams as playoffs start and expect both teams to make a splash in the coming weeks.

Top Performer-Ian Stiffler 7 IP 8 Strikeouts 4 Runs Allowed.
Clutch Perfomer-Bryce Mosteller-Game Winning Pinch Hit, 2 RBI Single.