By Kenny Varner

COCOLAMUS – The rivalry continues. Wednesday, the bragging rights for Juniata returned as the East Juniata Tigers baseball team renewed rivalry with Tri-Valley League adversary Juniata.

In the first contest, the Indians took the contest at home by a slim 4-3 margin.

In this rivalry no lead is safe as the Tigers rallied back from a 12-3 deficit to tie things at 13 in the fifth.

The game was a rollercoaster of momentum shown by both teams.

In the sixth, Juniata opened the inning with a single back the middle by Cam Bargo. Hayden Burd was hit by a pitch. Both moved up on a wild pitch by Wyatt Weges. Bargo scored on a fielders choice by Daylyn Kennedy giving the lead back to Juniata.

But that would be all that the Indians would be able to muster taking a 14-13 lead into the bottom of the inning.

Pitcher Bryce Harlon struck out the side in the bottom of the inning, sending Juniata into the seventh with the one-run lead.

Weges and company shut down the Indians offense in the seventh 1-2-3.

Harlon was just as successful in the seventh sending the Tigers down with the 1-2-3 inning and capturing the hard fought 14-13 victory.

“It took us an inning to really get going but when we were able to jump and go the kids were confident in themselves, they’re at bats. No matter how they got on base we started running the bases really well,” said Juniata coach Ty Treaster. “This is not the first time we’ve seen this happen. We get ready to close the door and we take a step back. But I’m just so proud of this team for continuing to push to the end. No matter what happens.”

Kennedy started on the mound for Juniata while Trent Price was the starting hurler for East Juniata. Both would get the no decision.

Both teams started off the contest posting two early runs.

In the second, East Juniata took the advantage when Austin Shearer singled and later scored on steal home, making it 3-2.

“They (East Juniata) have a lot of fight in them. When they believe in themselves they can do wonderful things“ said East Juniata coach Mark Barge. “They are good ball players, each and everyone of them. They’re disappointed. It’s a tough loss. We’ll bounce back.”

Juniata rallied back in to lead in the third, Kennedy helped his own cause hustling out an infield single. He was joined by teammate Drew Geedey as he hit a seeing-eye single in between the shortstop and left fielder.

Gage Harlon brought in Kennedy as he layed down a picture perfect bunt, tying it at three.

Geedey and Gage Harlon later scored on consecutive EJ miscues opening up a 5-3 advantage. Bryce Harlon scored as well on a wild pitch.

The rally continued as Garrett Imes walked and Cam Bargo was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second with no one out.

Kennedy added a 2-run single to continue the scoring for the visitors. Two more miscues by the Tigers scored two more for Juniata upping the lead to 10-3.

The Indians sent 12 batters to the plate in the 8-run third.

Kennedy finished strong in the third, striking out 2-of-3 in a 1-2-3 inning.

Offensively, the Indians started to rally again in the fourth.

Bryce Harlon led off with a walk. Teammate Caleb Aumer was hit by a pitch. Both moved up a base on an East Juniata ball, putting both runners in scoring position.

Bargo struck out and forced a throw to first on a dropped ball by the catcher, allowing Harlon to score. Hayden Burd brought in Auker on an RBI single to centerfield.

East Juniata refused to go down quietly as they got going in the fourth.

Meyer Ramsey led off with a 1-out single to left. Teammate Shafferman followed with one to left as well. Austin Shearer loaded the bases with a walk.

Ramsey scored on an RBI fielders choice cut into the lead.

Shafferman scored on a fielder’s choice by Wyatt Weges.

When the dust settled the Tigers found themselves back in the ball game, scoring six runs and cutting the score to 12-9.

The runs continued in the fifth, Kennedy got Juniata back on the board as he walked and scored on three wild pitches.

Gage Harlon smoked a shot just out of the reach of East Juniata first baseman Kelton Bonnell. He stole second. Bryce Harlon hit one back the middle, putting runners on the corners, with one out. Bryce Harlon stole second. Auker walked but the Tigers held strong allowing one.

Juniata went to its bull pen in the fifth, sending Drew Geedey to the mound.

East Juniata threatened once again with the bases loaded and two out. Ian Drukenmiller was on third, Shearer at first as both walked. Wyatt Weges reached on a Juniata error. Nathan Carolus walked in Drukenmiller cutting the Indians lead to 13-10.

A wild pitch brought the Tigers even closer as Shearer scored from third. Price doubled in two more, tying the contest at 13.

Geedey would be replaced on the mound by Bryce Harlon.

Kelton Bonnell was intentionally walked.

Harlon finished the inning with a strikeout sending the game into the sixth tied at 13.

With the win, the Indians improve to 8-8-1 while the Tigers fall to 3-14.

Juniata  14, East Juniata 13

JU 208 211  0 – 14 11 4

EJ  210 640 0 – 13  8 6

WP: Bryce Harlon

LP: Wyatt Weges

Multiple hits: JU. –  Daylyn Kennedy 2-for-4 3RBIs, 2runs, Drew Geedey 2-for-5 2runs, Gage Harlon 3-for-5 3RBIs, 2runs, Cam Bargo 2-for-2 . EJ –   Wyatt Weges 2-for-5 2runs, RBI, Trent Price 2-for-3, 4RBIs, run, Nathan Carolus 2-for-4 2 RBIs, 3runs.

HR: JU. –  None. EJ –   None.

3B: JU. –  None. EJ –   None.

2B: JU. -Gage Harlon  . EJ –   Nathan Carolus.