LOCAL SPORTS: Kittanning Mohawk Take On

by Jake DeLuca

Yesterday, the Montebell Field was host to an exciting little league match-up. The Kittanning Mohawk took on the New Bethlehem Gray. It hasn’t always been easy this season for the Mohawk, but the players don’t mind the challenge.

“They battle, the team has been down many times this year, sometimes by five, six ,seven ,eight runs, and they’ve come back and won some of those games. They have a lot of heart, they don’t give up, they play hard, and they give me the most effort. That’s the most exciting part” said Mohawk manager, Mike Mills.

This game, however the Mohawk were able to jump out to an early lead and they didn’t look back. In the first inning Ethan Eckman hit a double to score one baserunner. The Mohawk weren’t done there, on the next at bat Nolan Mills hit a triple to clear the bases and make the game 3-0.

One thing that may have something to do with the success of the Mohawk, is their pre-game ritual.

“We have a little saying that usually one of the boys will do to get the team fired up before the game, and for home games we like to come in and take a couple swings and then go out into the outfield and get warmed up, then go play ball.” Mills said.

The Mohawk coaching staff has three first year players on the team this year, but that doesn’t change the approach when it comes to teaching the team.

“They start to learn some of the fundamentals of the game, they know the positions they know where to throw the ball for the most part. It’s just mastering the fundamentals, proper technique on fielding a ground ball, throwing the ball, having confidence when you’re batting. Those are the key indicators right now that we’re working on.” Said Mills.

The teams fundamentals and confidence prevailed as they poured in four runs in the second and two more in the third to earn the win against New Bethlehem.