Central Mountain softball shuts down Mifflinburg for win #6

By Tom Elling

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP, PA- The Lady Wildcats were dominant in every phase of the game as they 15-runned Mifflinburg in three innings Tuesday evening at the Central Mountain Athletic Complex.

Junior Allison Lininger allowed just a first-batter double to Mifflinburg’s hard-hitting Kira Hackenburg and a base on balls to Tawnya Shrawder for the only baserunners Mifflinburg (also Lady Wildcats) would see.

Lininger upper her W-L record to 2-0 and dropped her ERA below 2.00 as she struck out four and allowed just two balls to leave the infield.

She had the benefit of plenty of offense (a rare commodity of late). Audrey Walker had three of the CM Wildcats 13 hits, scoring twice and knocking in a run. Caitlyn Watson, Lininger, and Kelsey Burrows added two a-piece. Lininger’s double was the only extra-base hit of the barrage.

Harley Kunes, Madisyn Wian, Madison Toner and Kaitlyn Bowman all added singles.

The RBIs were equally dispersed as seven of the nine batting spots contributed. Burrows had three. Watson’s two-out shot to right center drove in the final two runs to shorten the game.

Defensively, the team was again flawless.

The Wildcats are ranked #1 in District 6 Class 5A. Pitching has been a huge factor. The two stalwarts- Lininger and Addie McKeague have given up a total of just 4 runs and have shut out the last two opponents. Meanwhile, the bats have been adequate in some games and explosive in others, scoring 43 runs during their win streak.

The Lady ‘Cats (6-0) have downed Shikellamy (4-1 in 8 Inn), Milton (16-1 in 3), Shamokin (2-1 in 8), Danville (4-1 in 8) and Selinsgrove (2-0). They will next visit State College (3-0) Wednesday. Game time is 4:15. State High has wins over Mifflin County (3-2), Red Land (5-0) and Central Dauphin (13-0).