Wildcats claim Heartland crown with 11-7 win at ‘Shore
JERSEY SHORE, PA – The Central Mountain baseball team did what it had to do on the way to an 11-7 win at Jersey Shore on Tuesday. The victory earned the Wildcats the Heartland Athletic Conference title and with their 19th win (against just one loss) tied the school record for most regular season wins in a season.
Coach Mike Kramer reflected briefly on the regular season, then looked ahead: “I’m very elated, they all put in the work to get to this point, but we’re not satisfied; we have to keep our eye on the prize.” That reference was to the postseason, starting next Monday in the District 6 Class 5A championship game against Hollidaysburg (8-10), the game scheduled for Bald Eagle Area High School in Wingate. The veteran coach said he believes the Wildcats are ready, “I’m very happy with how we have come along” in all aspects, hitting, pitching and defense.
The game at ‘Shore saw the Wildcats score a run in the first on a single from Cru Stover. The Bulldogs answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, but the Wildcats took the lead for good in the second, plating four runs, including another RBI single from Stover. CM plated three runs in the sixth on a long RBI double from Levi Schlesinger.
Jersey Shore, down 11-1 into the bottom of the sixth, made things interesting, getting to Wildcat starter Chase Brush and reliever Dallas Alexander for five runs. They added a final run in the bottom of the seven to set the final at 11-7 for the visitors.
Brush settled down after walking in a run in the first and was all but untouchable into the sixth until the late Bulldog rally. The Wildcat senior went five-plus innings, giving up three hits and five runs, walking five and striking out five and hitting a batter. Alexander worked an inning, giving up two hits and a run, striking out two and Gabe Johnson finished up, giving up a hit and a run while striking out one.
Meanwhile the Wildcats punched out eight hits and took advantage of nine ‘Shore walks, two hit batters and three errors.
Schlesinger and Stover each had two hits and three RBIs for the game. Braylen Corter went two-for-three with a double, three runs scored and an RBI. Other hits, singles, came from Kevin Grenninger with an RBI and Kelvin Probst with two RBIs.
Tyler Bauder led the Bulldog offense with two hits, one of them a homerun, the other a double, and an RBI. Bauder started on the mound for ‘Shore and went 3.1 innings giving up five hits and seven runs, only one of which was earned. He struck out two and walked four.
Jersey Shore is now 4-15 on the season.
CM 1 4 0 3 0 3 0 = 11-8-0
JS 1 0 0 0 0 5 1 = 7-6-3
