No. 1 Allegany advances to region final, defeats No. 4 Mountain Ridge, 9-0

LAVALE — No. 4 seed Mountain Ridge hung around for five-and-a-half innings, but top-seeded Allegany took control in the sixth.

The Campers (18-1) scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth, leading to a 9-0 win in a Class 1A West Region I semifinal on Monday at Lions Field.

"It's a typical game from us this year," Alco manager Dave Winner said. "Started out, have some baserunners left on, hit some fly balls. Keep chipping away, and it seemed we'd get an inning where we can get five or six runs. Next thing you know, it's 9-0."

Allegany led 4-0 through five innings, leading 5-2 in hits.

"We gave a good effort," Mountain Ridge skipper Kim Jackson said. "We played tough, we just didn't get the hits when we needed them. But we lost to a good team, that's a very good team out there."

With one out in the sixth, Eden Robinson hit an RBI single on a low line drive to right.

Maylee Blank loaded the bases on a bunt single, setting up Desi Hilton for a two-run knock to left center.

Hilton led Alco, going 3 for 3 with two RBIs.

"I just think energy," Blank said of what sparked the big inning. "Our dugout was getting kinda dead, and then it broke through once we got some energy and hits consistently."

Jordyn Sneathen followed with a two-run knock up the middle to conclude the scoring.

The Campers opened the scoring in the bottom of the second.

Tyiss Jessie tripled down the left-field line, then Alyssa Rader drove her in on a base hit to left center.

Savannah Walton added a run on an infield hit in the third.

Jessie and Robinson each had two hits.

Alco added two runs in the fifth on a wild pitch and Mykah Baker's single over the shortstop.

"Our kids believe in each other," Winner said. "The third time through seeing a pitcher, you feel more comfortable. We finally get a feel for what she's throwing."

The Miners (9-12) only had four baserunners.

Anne Baker and Madison Bowman had the two hits, while Baker and Macy Barth drew walks.

Barth's free pass in the top of the third was Mountain Ridge's final runner.

"We took a lot of called third strikes," Jackson said. "We have to be a little more aggressive at the plate. We hit the ball better in the first couple innings. We were a little bit more aggressive. A couple little breaks here and there and the game would've been a little closer."

Sneathen tossed a complete-game shutout with 14 strikeouts.

"Jordyn's a senior, four-year starter," Winner said. "She's been the number one pitcher the last two years. When she's on, she's hard to hit. If we score nine runs, we're gonna be pretty good against most teams."

Juliana Burriss was charged with six earned runs on 10 hits and a walk with two strikeouts.