The Tyrone Golden Eagles defeated the Philipsburg Mounties 9-2 Monday night to secure their first Mountain League Championship in school history and their first league championship in 27 years.

“It is such a great feeling after struggling the past couple years. I look forward to the rest of the season,” said senior Andrew Pearson.

The Golden Eagles were led by junior Kevin Lehner who pitched lights out over 6 innings of work.  He kept the P.O. hitters off the bases for most of the night. Even when they reached base he worked his way out with the help of his defense behind him. Lehner allowed only 2 runs on 6 hits while striking out 4.

The Golden Eagle bats did not back down from the challenge of tough P.O. pitching. They racked up 11 hits, keeping the trend of hot games from the plate going. The whole team was feeling it from the plate as seven of nine starters recorded hits. Cory Lehman, Bryce Hunter, Matthew Savino and Colson Lewis all had 2 hits. Hunter and Savino each drove in 2 runs for Tyrone.

“It’s awesome. It’s been one of our goals and dreams since the end of last season and to do it at home is a big plus,” said senior Cory Lehman

Both teams where held scoreless for the first two innings until the Golden Eagles opened the scoring in the bottom of the third. They were only able to score 1 but it gave them the early lead.

P.O. tied up the game in the top of the fourth inning on a solo home run tying the game at one run a piece.

Tyrone’s bats exploded as they scored 7 runs over the next two innings. They scored 4 in the fourth and 3 more in the fifth. P.O was unable to answer so Tyrone held a 8-1 lead after 5 innings.

P.O. scored 1 run in the top of the sixth but they were unable to score the runs necessary to get the game back in reach. Tyrone landed the final blow in the bottom of that inning to take a 9-2 lead.

The last time the Golden Eagles won a league title was in 1993 when they were part of the Blair County League. In 1992 the Golden Eagles won their last District Championship.  There are four boys on the 2019 squad who’s parents were on the 1992 district championship team (see photo).

With the victory the Golden Eagles record moves to 16-2 on the season. They travel to Central on Thursday as they look to defeat another tough Mountain League opponent.

BOX SCORE

PHILLIPSBURG-OSCEOLA (2): Kephart 400, McDonald 311, Soltis 311, Dixon 300, Shaw 302, J. Whitehead 301, R. Whitehead 201, Gutskey 100, Martin 101, Jones 301. Totals–27-2-8.

TYRONE (9): Pearson 411, Shultz 400, Lehner 401, Lehman 302, Lucas 310, Savino 322, Lewis 312, Hunter 312, Lang 301, Hoover CR 010, Vipond CR 020. Totals–30-9-11.

SCORE BY INNINGS

Philipsburg-Osceola 000 101 0–2 8 3

Tyrone 001 431 X–9 11 0

E– Gardner, Snyder 2, Maynard. 2B– Shaw, Lehman, Hunter, Savino. HR–McDonald. RBI–McDonald, J. Whitehead, Lehman, Savino 2, Lewis, Hunter 2, Lang. WP–Lehner. LP–R. Whitehead. SO– R. Whitehead 3, Lehner 4, Coleman 1. BB– R. Whitehead 2, Lehner 1.

Records: Philipsburg-Osceola (12-5); Tyrone (16-2).