Montgomery pitcher Matt Miller threw six innings not surrendering an earned run in last week's PIAA Class A opener against Blue Ridge.

Blue Ridge won its PIAA Class A opener edging Montgomery last Wednesday, 3-2, at Connell Park and eliminating the Red Raiders.

Montgomery pitcher Matt Miller threw six innings not surrendering an earned run. Miller, finished the year with a 1.38 ERA and scattered six hits. Three of those hits came in the fifth inning when a controversial call at third base allowed the first three Blue Ridge batters of the inning to reach base. With Montgomery leading 1-0, a Blue Ridge batter hit a one-out single to center field where the ball got under the fielder’s glove allowing all three runs to score.

Keanu Sauers reached base four times and score both runs and taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Sauers reached first to open the game on a throwing error and then moved to second on an error of a pickoff throw. After stealing third, Ray Farr singled to left field to drive in Sauers and give Montgomery the lead.

The Red Raiders left runners stranded in scoring position in each of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Their only hits with runners in scoring position was Farr’s RBI-single in the first, and Michael Alexander’s in the seventh. Montgomery’s season finished with a 17-5 record.

Montgomery 100 000 1 – 2 7 2

Blue Ridge 000 030 x – 3 6 4

Matt Miller and Michael Alexander. Jake Decker and Trey Hillard.

W – Decker. L – Miller.

Top Montgomery hitters: Keanu Sauers 2-3, 2 runs, 2 SB; Thomas Goetz, 2-4; Ray Farr, 1-4, RBI; Michael Alexander, 2-4, RBI. Top Blue Ridge hitters: Jake Decker, 2-3, RBI; Derick Stento, 2-2; Evan Aldrich, 1-2, run; Nick Folk, 1-3, run.