By Kenny Varner

COCOLAMUS –  Battling not only the Sugar Valley Phoenix Monday, East Juniata pitcher Wyatt Weges put together a strong pitching performance going six innings while teammate Kenton Bonnell picked up the save as the East Juniata baseball team topped Sugar Valley in a non-conference match up 10-6.

Despite a late game rally by Sugar Valley, the Tigers were able to overcome one strong inning by the Phoenix to take the victory.

Weges also had it going at the plate

going 2-for-3 and 2runs while teammate Kelton Bonnell exploded for a 4-for-4 4 RBI night. He was a home run short of hitting for the cycle as he posted a single, two doubles and a triple.

“Wyatt pitched a heck of a game and Kelton came in and shut them down for us for the win, said East Juniata coach Mark Barge. “Our defense was there and the offense was strong tonight.”

Lincoln Breon tallied three RBIs for Sugar Valley in the loss.

Teammate Brody Swanger was the team’s lone multiple hitter posting a 2-for-3 effort with two runs.

In the first inning, Sugar Valley’s Brody Swanger got the game started with a seeing eye single in shallow right field. He moved up to third on two consecutive wild pitches.

He was brought in by teammate Lincoln Breon who bounced into an RBI fielders’ choice, making it a 1-0 Phoenix lead.

Dakota Jodun reached base on an error.

With two out catcher Nathan Carolus gunned the ball to the third baseman Owen Messimer catching Jodun trying to steal third, ending the inning and the threat of Sugar Valley adding anymore runs.

In the bottom of the first, the Tigers battled back to take the lead.

Weges led off the inning with a single. Carolus was plunked by an Andrus pitch.

Both scored via a triple by a hustling Bonnell, taking the lead at 2-1.

Defensively, the Tigers were on their game. In the second, Weges struck out 2-of-3 while shortstop Trenton Price made a leaping catch on a line drive to end the inning in a 1-2-3 fashion.

East Juniata added a run in the third. Weges singled and later scored on an RBI single by Bonnell.

Weges was cruising through the order, keeping the Phoenix off the board in the second, third and fourth innings.

Offensively, the Tigers added some much needed insurance runs to their slim lead. Everyone in the line up got a chance to bat and when the dust settled, East Juniata extended its lead to a seemingly comfortable 8-1 contest. Despite the gusty winds Weges had struck out seven while allowing just two hits in the first five innings.

But Sugar Valley refused to go down without a fight as they were able to mount a comeback in the sixth.

Weges was replaced by Bonnell after the Phoenix had plated five runs as well, closing the Tigers lead to just two runs, 8-6.

East Juniata was up for the challenge as they were able to recoup two runs in the bottom of the inning to extend the lead back out to four at 10-6.

With Bonnell on the mound, the Tigers were able to go through the top of the seventh unscathed as they held onto the 10-6 non-league victory.

East Juniata  10, Sugar Valley 6

SV 100 005 0 – 6 4 2

EJ 201 502 x – 10 8 0

WP: Wyatt Weges

LP: Bentley Andrus

S: Kenton Bonnell

Multiple hits: SV – Brody Swanger   . EJ –  Wyatt Weges 2-for-3, 2runs, Kelton Bonnell 4-for-4, 4RBIs, triple, 2 doubles, run.

HR: SV – None. EJ – None.

3B: SV – Lincoln Breon, Bryson Martin. EJ –  Bonnell .

2B: SV – None. EJ –  Bonnell (2).