Martinsburg Central Baseball Falls in Altoona

The Bermudian Springs Eagles took advantage of four errors and got a great pitching performance from senior Nate Emlet to win their first baseball championship 5-3 over the Martinsburg Central Dragons in the Class AA PIAA baseball championship game.

Emlet allowed three runs in the first three innings, but allowed only three baserunners the rest of the way, he struck out the side to end the game. Jason Cline had two hits, including a double. DH Colton Forbes and Kevin McManama were both on base four times for the Eagles.

Bermudian Springs opened the scoring in the top of the first, after one out Cline doubled to short right after second baseman Trent Forshey lost the ball the in the sun. One batter later, Forbes singled to left to score Cline. Central came right back in the bottom of the first, after two outs C.J. Gahagen homered to the second row of the left centerfield bleachers, knotting the game at one.

The Eagles took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third, after two outs Forbes drew a walk on a very close payoff pitch, McManama and Emlet followed with back to back singles, Forbes scoring on the Emlet hit to left. The Dragons answered back in the bottom of the inning, Casey Hamilton with an rbi double and Trent Forshey with a run scoring single giving Central a 3-2 lead.

Bermudian Springs regained the lead in the top of the fourth, scoring two runs without a hit. Mike Moore reached on a error, went to third on a pickoff attempt gone bac then scored when catcher Nick Reed airmailed a pickoff attempt at third. McManama drew a bases loaded walk bringing home the second run of the inning. The Eagles added a run in the top of the sixth, taking advantage of another Dragons error, Cline singled and was able to score when Forshey could not turn a double play, throwing wide of first base.

The District 3 champions end the season at 21-7, it's the first championship in Class AA for District 3 since Northeastern in 2004. Central, the District 6 runner-up finishes at 17-11 overall. The game was delayed 16 minutes at the start to allow the large crowd of fans from both teams to enter the ballpark, forcing officials to open the second level at Blair County for the first time.

Bermudian Springs : 1 0 1 2 0 1 0 = 5-7-1
Martinsburg Central : 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 = 3-5-4

From The MSA SPORTSNET