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Game Recaps: Mid-Penn Conference Playoffs

May 12, 2015

By Mark Chimel
PA Area Scout

West Perry 7, Central Dauphin 2

Ben DumIn the Mid-Penn Conference semifinal matchup at Northern York High School, Commonwealth Division champion Central Dauphin had to deal with Capital Division Champion West Perry and their ace Ben Dum (right). The Mustangs rode the right arm of their VCU recruit and used a steady dose of small ball to win 7-2.

Neither pitcher allowed a hit in the first inning, with West Perry taking advantage of a few walks from Tony Zimmerman to push across two runs without getting a hit in the second. The Mustangs would collect an additional run in each of the next two frames with RBI singles off the bats of Brendon Bussom and Ethan Lesher. 

Central Dauphin got on the board in the top of the fifth led by singles from Baily Herrald and Jake Artz. More West Perry small ball in the sixth allowed them to tack on three additional runs. Dum then absorbed two Ram singles in the top of the seventh before shutting the door on the threat following a second Rams' run crossing the plate.

Central Dauphin actually outhit the Mustangs 7-3 in a losing effort while West Perry used five sacrifice bunts to create their seven runs. The Ram offense was led by Riley McLaughlin who had two hits. Lesher, Bussom, and Brady Smith had the hits for West Perry. On the mound, Dum collected five strikeouts in a complete game effort on three days rest. Zimmerman also threw a complete game for the Rams collecting three strikeouts and allowing only three earned runs.

Mechanicsburg won the other conference semifinal game 4-0 against Shippensburg to set up the championship match-up between West Perry and Mechanicsburg. 

Mechanicsburg 2, West Perry 1

Jeff AllenWhen we scouted Mechanicsburg last week, they captured the Mid-Penn Keystone Division crown behind a shutout from their ace Jeff Allen (right). Less than a week later, they sent their No. 1A Hayden Seig to the mound and the result was not that much different. The tall righty turned in a shutout of his own to lead the Wildcats to a 2-0 win and the Mid-Penn Conference title. 

Seig gave up one hit in the first inning to West Perry’s No. 3 hitter Scotty Messner and would not surrender another one the rest of the game. Aided by a strong Mechanicsburg defense led by great plays from Marc Hershey and Matt Cody, Seig did not even allow a runner to reach second base until the last inning of play. He also added six strikeouts against only two walks to his solid performance.

Mechanicsburg scored both of its runs in the bottom of the fourth inning fueled by a lead off single from Hershey and an RBI single from Cody. The second run was scored on a steal of home by Cody after the Mustangs botched their defense on a squeeze attempt. The Wildcat offense would be relatively quiet the rest of the night, but the two runs were more than enough for  Seig.

West Perry starter Tregg Liebel was the hard luck loser in the contest as the crafty lefty scattered seven hits and allowed only one earned run. The Lebanon Valley College commit did not allow a single walk until the seventh inning and registered one strikeout. The Mechanicsburg offense was led by Hershey and designated hitter Jon Bonner who had two hits each.

The championship victory for Mechanicsburg capped off a busy day of baseball at Northern. All four participants in the MPC tournament, Central Dauphin, Mechanicsburg, Shippensburg, and West Perry, will now await their District 3 playoff match-ups, with tournament action getting under way next Monday.

+ The Pennsylvania Scout Blog contains measurable data on some of the top prospects in action during the course of the evening.


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