American Legion Play: Crickets Lose First Game to Mifflin County, 4-3

BEECH CREEK — The Beech Creek American Legion team couldn’t hold an early 3-0 lead and lost their first game of the season Friday night, visiting Mifflin County rallying for a 4-3 last inning win.

The loss was the first for the 2-1 Crickets while Mifflin County moved to 2-0. Beech Creek will host Philipsburg at 1 p.m. Saturday and travel to Bellefonte next Tuesday.

Beech Creek scored one run in the first on a Brandon Miller single; he was later driven in by Toner Corl. In the third the Crickets added two more. Miller was hit by a pitch and later scored on another single from Corl who scored the final BC run later in the inning. Beech Creek was held without a hit the rest of the way by Mifflin County lefty Drew Westover.

Ethan Watkins went six innings for Beech Creek, giving up seven hits and two runs, striking out eight, walking two and hitting one and left with the lead. The Cricket bullpen could not hold the lead in the seventh and final inning, Kolten Parker taking the loss. Mifflin County used two walks, a bunt single and two hit batters to score two runs and take a 4-3 lead.

Beech Creek got two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh but Mifflin County turned a 5-4-3 double-play to end the game.