Tigers bring strong pitching tandem to ’23

BY GREG WILLIAMS Sports reporter gwilliams@lewistownsentinel.com

COCOLAMUS – One look at the East Juniata Tigers’ scorebook from last season, and few could blame head coach Lauren Cheran for feeling like a mad scientist.

A little Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, if you will.

Cheran watched her Tigers outscoring their opponents by a 104-81 margin, yet struggle to an 8-12 finish overall, including 5-11 in the Tri-Valley League.

Offensively, East Juniata could burn out the scoreboard lights one night then put up a big goose egg in its next outing.

“Some games we would do very well pitching but our hitting was off,” Cheran said. “We lost a lot of games by one run. We didn’t get the critical hits when we needed them, or we were making critical errors when things were tight.”

The Tigers blew out Line Mountain 16-0 in four innings the first time around then dropped a 7-6 squeaker in the second meeting. They also went 0-5 in one-run ballgames.

Cheran expects the going to be tough in the rough and rugged TVL. Millersburg and Susquenita are the reigning co-champions. Millersburg lost to league rival Halifax in the District 3 Class A title tilt. Susquenita made it all the way to the PIAA Class 3-A quarterfinals before bowing out.

“It’s always been a tough league to be in,” the

Tiger coach said. “I don’t see that changing. Millersburg and Upper Dauphin combined, so that’s now a solid program. Susquenita’s tough, too, but I think we can hang with the best of them.

“Juniata’s got good pitching,” she added. “I foresee a tough year with a lot of good ballplayers and good coaches leading those teams.”

Upper Dauphin and Halifax also qualified for the state playoffs, meaning 40 percent of the league went to states.

Tigers’ 5-11 record placed sixth in the TVL, well behind the playoff contenders.

East Juniata has a bunch of familiar faces returning, including the formidable pitching tandem of Brenna Watts and Marley Wilson. A senior, Watts went 4-8 in TVL games with 107 strikeouts and 19 walks in 81 innings pitched and a 2.77 earned run average. She was named a second team TVL All-Star last year and ranked fourth in the league in Ks, seventh in wins and ninth in ERA.

Wilson, a sophomore, was 1-3 with 20 1/3 innings pitched. She fanned 13 and walked three and turned in a 3.79 ERA.

“With Brenna coming back and Marly seeing a decent amount of time last year, I feel like our pitching should be good,” Cheran explained. “They did a great job with the various pitchers. They throw hard and keep the other team’s batters off balance.”

Overall, the Tiger duo posted a 2.97 ERA, which ranked sixth in the cir- cuit.

Watts can also catch when she’s not throwing, while Wilson should see time at first base.

Watts is one of four Tiger seniors that should see plenty of varsity playing time. Macy Buskey should be East Juniata’s shortstop, while Grace Hibbs can catch or play right field and Emma Willow could end up in right field. Willow hit. 316 and her 11 RBI led the Tigers.

Watts also hit .340 with 18 hits, including five doubles, and nine RBI.

Juniors Abby Warner and Annika Martin return and should be big contributors. Warner plays first base, while Martin should find a home in the outfield, likely in centerfield. Martin lead East Juniata with a .396 batting average, tied for the team lead with 19 hits and drove in seven runs.

Cheran believes her team has matured on the playing field, which should be on the Tigers’ strengths. “They have been playing together numerous years,” she explained.

Wilson is one of two sophomores. Ryley Dressler is the other and should man third base for the Tigers. Dressler batted .380, had 19 hits and drive in seven runs.

Out for the first time are freshmen Maddie Snyder, a second baseman-catcher, and Kennedy Seigler-Lewis, an outfielder.

East Juniata’s .276 batting average stood seventh in the league. They were the only TVL squad without a home run in

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East Juniata track and field schedule

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