Lightning Strikes- Myers’ Walk-Off HR Wins for Central Mountain
By Tom Elling
WINGATE — There are just two 5A softball teams in District 6—Central Mountain and Hollidaysburg. In the championship game Wednesday evening at Bald Eagle Area’s field, Central Mountain had a slight edge with a better record (12-5 to 10-10). The MaxPreps site ranked Central Mountain No. 57 in the state, while Hollidaysburg was listed at No. 214. Computer rankings predicted Central Mountain as a one-run favorite with a 6-5 result.
Pitching proved to be crucial, as both teams used their aces. Maria Malone for the Lady Tigers had an 8-4 record with a 1.85 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 79.1 innings. The Lady Wildcats countered with four-year starter Addie McKeague, who had a 2.41 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 69.2 innings despite an early-season injury.
The game turned into a pitchers’ duel, tied 1-1 through eight innings. Hollidaysburg scored first in the top of the third, following a one-hour and twelve-minute lightning delay. McKeague, returning flat according to head coach Fred Caldwell, hit Tiger centerfielder Maggie Hicks on the first pitch, then walked No. 8 hitter Maya Gearhart. Third baseman AJ Good, batting just .176, delivered a clutch RBI single to left, advancing both runners. McKeague then retired the next three batters on a fly out, a strikeout, and a comebacker.
Central Mountain, still without a hit, wasted a lead-off hit-by-pitch to Sophie Mitchell. She was sacrificed to second by Taylor Doyle, but Malone struck out the next two batters.
Hollidaysburg maintained a 1-0 lead into the sixth. Harley Kunes lined a single to left, stole second, and scored on a hard grounder by Madison Hardy, which deflected off the second baseman into short left, allowing Kunes to tie the game.
The score stayed tied until the bottom of the ninth. McKeague retired ten in a row after a two-out walk in the sixth, striking out five in that span. Both teams managed only four hits apiece.
In the bottom of the ninth, designated player Cora Myers, who was 1-for-3 with two strikeouts, launched an 0-1 pitch over the left-field fence for her eighth home run, giving the Lady Wildcats the 5A District title. They had previously defeated the same team 7-1.
Coach Caldwell remarked, “I didn’t think it was going that far, but when their left-fielder kept going back and was reaching for the fence, I saw it go over and, frankly, all I could do was smile.”
Caldwell praised both Myers and McKeague, saying, “Addie really hung in there. I think she threw 125 pitches. What a great job. The longer she went, the better she got. Our whole team played well. No errors and some good contact against an outstanding Hollidaysburg pitcher. We faced her last year and expected she’d throw a lot of heat low and inside.”
The District 6 Class 5A champion will await their next game, assumed to be next Tuesday, with the time, opponent, and site to be announced at the end of this week.
