Wildcats Top Montour 5-0

Talon Falls

Next Stop is Mifflinburg

MILL HALL – Good pitching, good defense and good “small ball” offense were more than enough for the Central Mountain baseball team on Thursday, the result a 5-0 win over Montoursville.

The victory, behind a slick 2-hitter from junior Toner Corl, moved the Wildcats into undisputed possession of first place in the Heartland Conference, setting up a key Friday game at number two Mifflinburg.

Central Mountain is now 8-3 overall, 8-2 in conference play. Mifflinburg is now 5-3 after a 2-1 loss to Montoursville on Wednesday, the Warriors also at 5-3 after Montour’s loss to CM Thursday.

Two Montoursville pitchers held Central Mountain to seven hits, all singles, but the Wildcats utilized four walks and three Warrior errors to tally two runs in the bottom of the first, two more in the third and a final run in the fifth.

Corl was in command throughout, wavering only in the top of the sixth when the visitors got two runners on with one out but a groundball double-play from second baseman Alex Garbrick to shortstop Zach Skrtich to first baseman Bryce Hanley ended the game.

Corl gave up singles in the third and seventh innings, struck out six and issued two walks and hit three batters.

The Wildcats’ seven singles came from Talon Falls (who also had three RBIs), Garbrick (with an RBI), Corl, Isaac Porter, Skrtich, Kenny Heverly and Trapper Kunes. Wyatt Koch also contributed a groundout RBI.

Central Mountain can take a major step toward the conference title with a win at Mifflinburg on Friday. Skrtich will get the ball for coach Mike Kramer’s team while Mifflinburg is expected to counter with standout sophomore Dylan Weikel who has given up only one earned run in 34 innings of pitching this season. Both are right-handers.