Fortunately for Altoona, the Mountain Lions had a pitcher with elite control on the mound for Thursday’s District 6 Class 6A semifinal against State College at Mansion Park.

Eric McAllister threw just 85 pitches over seven innings, allowed just three hits, struck out eight and walked none in a 1-0 triumph that clinched a spot for Altoona in Wednesday’s District 6 title game against Mifflin County at Mount Aloysius College at 4 p.m.

“I just try to get strike one out of the way and go from there,” McAllister said. “I have always been a strike thrower.”

Altoona third baseman Brayden Pike taps gloves with pitcher Eric McAllister after throwing around the horn after a strike out. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

McAllister did not even get into a three-ball count against any hitter in Thursday’s triumph.

“We struggle offensively,” Altoona coach Tom Smith said. “We know it. We told them that we had to win a 1-0 or 2-1 type of game. We got one, and we said that was all we needed because Eric did such a great job on the mound.”

State College managed just three singles — and only one left the infield. The Little Lions did bring the tying run to third twice, but both times McAllister got a strikeout to end the inning.

He also forced State College into four pop outs.

“I kept offspeed mixed in with a curveball and a changeup,” McAllister said.

State College starter Cody Norman was nearly as good as McAllister. He pitched six innings, allowed just two hits, struck out eight but gave up three walks and hit a batter.

One of those walks, to No. 9 hitter Talan Palladini, turned the tide of the game.

Following the free pass, Norman hesitated on his delivery to home and was called for a balk. Palladini went to second and scored when Tanner Stroup laced a double to the wall.

“A few weeks ago, we decided to make some changes and put him at the top of the lineup,” Smith said. “He’s our best hitter. You want him up more late in the game. When we turn the order, they have to stare at our best hitter at the No. 1 spot. He has seemed to take off offensively in that No. 1 spot.”

Stroup was thrilled to help McAllister pick up the win.

“This is everything I wanted,” Stroup said. “I haven’t had a chance to get a District 6 championship here. There’s nothing I want more than to win one with this group. They are a special group of people. I wanted to come through for McAllister. He pitches his butt off week in and week out, and he deserved the win.”

McAllister tried to help himself in the bottom of the sixth inning with a one-out single. Courtesy runner Vinny Nedimyer stole second, but Norman retired the next two batters.

Altoona shortstop Alex Glasgow began the top of the seventh inning by making a tough scoop on a bad hop and threw out Ryden Walker before McAllister struck out the next two batters to end the game.

“It’s huge to get the first guy,” Smith said. “He made the play, and pitching and defense is what we lean on.”

State College ended its season 8-12.

“Both guys were dealing really nicely,” State College coach Dan Fravel said. “Hits were hard to come by. It comes down to the strategy of moving runners along and coming up with a key hit, which Altoona was able to do. We had guys in scoring position, but it’s tough to come up with that key hit. Neither pitcher was giving in. They both threw pitches on the edges. It was a really nice game overall. Congrats to Altoona.”

McAllister improved to 4-1 and started his fourth game of the season after being used primarily as a relief pitcher for the first two and a half seasons of his varsity career.

“His first two years we used him a lot in relief,” Smith said. “But we knew he was going to be starting games for us so after the first couple games we put him out there to start, and he’s done pretty darn good. It was a great high school baseball game. Fortunately for us, we were able to scratch out a run and come out on top.”

Altoona split a pair of games against Mifflin County this season — winning 5-2 on March 31 and losing 5-3 on April 22.

“We’ll be playing a team very similar to us and State College in Mifflin County,” Smith said. “They are going to pitch and play defense and play for runs. We expect the same type of game next week.”

STATE COLLEGE (0): Kulka 1b 301, Powell rf 301, Ro. Walker 2b 301, Ry. Walker 2b 300, Hardison lf 300, Norman p 000, Williams dh 300, Hall cf 200, L. Bierly c 200, K. Bierly ss 100, Machtinger ph 100. Totals — 24-0-3.

ALTOONA (1): Stroup lf 201, Kraft c 100, Baer cr 000, McAllister p 301, Nedimyer cr 000, Waite 1b 300, B. Pike 3b 300, Glasgow ss 200, Gority rf 000, Hainsey dh 200, Webster cf 100, Palladini 2b 110. Totals — 18-1-2.

SCORE BY INNINGS

State College 000 000 0–0 3 0

Altoona 001 000 X–1 2 0

E–none. 2B–Stroup. RBI–Stroup. SB–Kulka, Ro. Walker, Stroup, Nedimyer. Balk–Norman, McAllister. HBP–Kraft (by Norman).

PITCHING

State College: Norman (L) — 6IP, 2H, 8K, 3BB, 1HBP, 1R, 1ER, 95 pitches.

Altoona: McAllister (W) — 7IP, 3H, 8K, 0BB, 0R, 0ER, 85 pitches.

Records: State College (8-12); Altoona (10-11).