Lady Wildcats post solid softball win over Shik, 7-2

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP, PA – It was an early season showdown of sorts at the Central Mountain softball field on Tuesday, both the home team Lady Wildcats and visiting Shikellamy checking in at 2-0. Coach Fred Caldwell’s team played well in all aspects of the game, sending the Lady Braves home with a 2-1 record after a 7-2 CM win; Central Mountain is now 3-0 and preps for a Friday trip to rival Jersey Shore.

Sophomore Allison Lininger and freshman Addie McKeague combined on a 6-hitter, Lininger with six and a third innings of work, McKeague on in relief for the final two outs aftern Shik had put two runners on in the top of the seventh.

Coach Caldwell was pleased with the win, what he called, “A great team effort.” He noted the team hit the ball well, 10 base hits in all, improved in its base-running and did well in hitting in special situations, something the coach said the team had concentrated on in practice recently.

The Lady Wildcats put up a run in the bottom of the first off a double from Caitlyn Watson who advanced to third on a groundout and scored on an infield miscue. The Lady ‘Cats put up a 3-spot in the fourth, using an RBI double from Lininger and an RBI single from Lexi Strouse and a sacrifice bunt RBI from Madison Wian.

Central Mountain added two more in the fifth. Madison Hardy hit a one-out double and moved up when Lininger singled for her second hit. Strouse sacrifice-bunted Hardy in for her second RBI and Maggy Saar doubled in Lininger. The final run came in the bottom of the sixth after Watson singled and was driven by Riley Houser with a single.

Lininger was working on a one-hit shutout into the sixth when the Lady Braves bunched three hits to produce their two runs. Lininger struck out 8 and walked 3 to earn the win.

Watson, Hardy and Lininger all had two hits each, Houser with one, Strouse with one, Madison Wian with one and Saar with her double.

Central Mountain will finish the week at Jersey Shore (1-0) on Friday, game time 4:30 p.m. The Lady Bulldogs defeated Mifflinburg, 3-1, in their lone contest so far.