WILDCATS GO TO 5-0 AFTER 14-4 WIN OVER SEALS

By Joe Walker

MILL HALL – Timely two out hitting and outstanding relief pitching allowed the Central Mountain Wildcats to stay unbeaten at 5-0, as they exploded for 8 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to come away with a 14-4 ten-run rule win over the Seals of Selinsgrove. 

The Seals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first innings, as Wildcat starter Gage Laughner was having a rough outing, as he walked three straight batters and then allowed a bases-clearing double by the Seals’ Dominic Santer and a single by Jonathan Neideg. Laughner did record two strikeouts, but was replaced by junior Darius Shade, who recorded a strikeout to end the inning. 

Shade then proceeded to go 5 ⅓ innings in relief, as the Wildcat junior allowed just one run on four hits, while fanning nine batters and did not issue a walk in picking up the win in relief. Shade was supported by a 12-hit barrage from the Wildcat hitters. 

The Wildcats tied the game in the bottom of the second inning on singles by Bryce Brungard and Jace Seltzer that was followed by a two out double from Isaiah Maldonaldo scoring two and then Brady Lavelle singled to allow Maldonaldo to score and tie it a 3-all. 

The Seals tallied its final run in the top of the fourth inning when Jayden Beaver singled, was sacrificed to second and then came around and scored on back to back wild pitches to give the guests a 4-3 lead. 

The Wildcats took the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, as with two outs, Seltzer singled, Maldonaldo doubled, Lavelle reached on an error and then Blake Walker doubled and the Wildcats were now up 6-4. 

The Wildcats offense broke out again with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Gavin Karstetter singled, Seltzer was hit by a pitch, Maldonaldo walked and Levelle cleared the bases with a double. Watt Probst walked, Malaky Moyd singled, Austin Frank was hit by a pitch, Felix Oquendo walked, Hunter Hoy reached base on an error and Maldonaldo singled to make it 13-4 and the bases were still loaded. 

Lavelle was up and on 1-0 count the ball came in high and went off the catcher’s glove, but nobody could find the ball. The reason they couldn’t, was the ball went into the umpires extra ball pouch. Thus, by rule, Oquendo was able to trot in from third with the 14th and final run to send it into a 10-run rule game at 14-4. The ball is ruled out of play in that extremely odd situation and allows all runners to advance one base. 

Maldonaldo was 3 for 4 with two long doubles and Lavelle was 3 for 4 with a double to lead the Wildcat attack. Seltzer was 2 for 3, while Walker, Moyd, Brungard and Karstetter all had one hit apiece, Walkers’ being a double.

Mayson Spade, Reid Kerstetter and Gavin Landis all saw mound duty for the Seals, as they surrendered 12 hits, walked two, struckout one batter and hit four batters with pitches. Six of the Wildcats 14 runs were unearned runs. 

“Darius (Shade) was outstanding, he did exactly what we needed him to do. That was to throw strikes, keep your pitch count down and let your defense work for you. We did play very good defense and the mojo Darius brings to the mound is infectious and the team picks up on that. “Commented a pleased Wildcat Head Coach Mike Kramer after the win. 

“It was nice to see the guys come back from adversity, as we started out slow with the bats. Their first pitcher was throwing with a little less velocity than what we had been seeing and it had the guys a little off balance the first time through the order. But, they settled in the second time through the line-up and we got a lot of good timely hits, especially having most coming with two outs.” added Kramer. 

The Wildcats, now 5-0, will be back in action on Monday, as they will host the Shikellamy Braves in another Heartland Conference game at Kramer Field. They will then travel to Jersey Shore next Friday to face the Bulldogs in another Heartland Conference game. Both of those games have 4:30 pm start times. 

SEALS 300 100 X – 4 runs, 5 hits, 3 errors 

CMHS 030 308 X – 14 runs, 12 hits, 0 errors