Lady Wildcats Claim Third in Thunder

cm-softballBALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP—The Central Mountain softball team had to settle for third place in its own talent-laden Thunder on the Mountain tourney Saturday.

The Lady Wildcats defeated defending District Four champion Jersey Shore in the consolation game 2-1 behind a route-going performance from sophomore pitcher Emily Strouse; their semi-final contest saw DuBois rally for seven late runs in coming from behind for a 7-4 win over ace Lady Wildcat pitcher Rachael Shady.

Game one against DuBois saw Central Mountain open a 4-0 lead after four innings, powered by senior catcher Lauren Russell who had a 3-for-4 game with three RBIs. But DuBois chipped away against Shady, putting up single runs in the fifth and sixth innings and batting around in a 5-run top of the seventh.

DuBois starter Rachel Henry pitched a one-two-three bottom of the seventh for the 7-4 final and Central Mountain was denied an appearance in the championship game.

Henry spread out eight hits, walking four and striking out four. Shady suffered her second loss, pitching into the seventh inning, giving up eight hits, striking out five and walking three. Sophomore Madison Brown finished the seventh inning, giving up one hit.

Game two saw Emily Strouse solid throughout, going all seven innings in hurling a 3-hitter, striking our one and walking five, backed by solid defense, particularly Bree Hilty at third base who made highlight reel back-to-back plays in the third inning, one on a ground ball, the other on a line drive.

Russell paced a 9-hit attack against Jersey Shore starter and loser Rebecca Caputo. Russell drove in the winners’ only two runs with a 2-RBI single in the third inning, part of a 2-for-3 second game. Other multiple hits in game two came from Hilty with two singles and Moriah Major with two singles.

The tourney split left Central Mountain at 10-2 on the season. Next up is a home game next Wednesday with Bellefonte, followed by a trip to Altoona on Thursday.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
DUBOIS 0 0 0 0 1 1 5  7  9  2
CENTRAL MOUNTAIN 1 0 1 2 0 0 0  4  8  2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
JERSEY SHORE 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  1  3  1
CENTRAL MOUNTAIN 0 0 2 0 0 0 X  2  9  0
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