Lady Wildcats Power Their Way Into State 5A Semifinals

By Joe Walker

DUBOIS – In the sport of Softball or Baseball coaches will tell you a great game is one where you get good pitching, good defense and timely hitting, well Central Mountain Head Coach Fred Caldwell got all three from his Lady Wildcats, as they posted a solid 4-1 win over District 7 champion Armstrong Thursday afternoon to advance to the PIAA Class 5A semifinals. 

“When we beat Penn Trafford on Monday I thought that was the best game we played all season, but then today the girls came out and played just as well and maybe better.” commented a very happy Caldwell after the victory. The Lady Wildcats had lost 13-5 to the River Hawks in the 2022 state tournament, so it was a sweet payback win for the Blue and White. 

After getting the River Hawks out 1-2-3 in the top half of the first innings, the Lady Wildcats sandwiched walks to Harley Kunes and Madison Hardy around a double by Cora Myers to load the bases. The River Hawks’ then got a strikeout to end the threat, as the Lady Wildcats left the bases full. 

After senior pitcher Adalynn McKeague retired the River Hawks 1-2-3 in the top of the second inning, the Lady Wildcat bats came alive in the bottom of the second inning. With one out freshman Camdyn Weaver stepped up to the plate with one out and smashed a solo home run to right field for a 1-0 lead. With two outs, Cirstyn Watson doubled and Madisyn Wian singled to put two runners on and then senior Harley Kunes stepped up and blasted a three-run home run to leftfield and put the Wildcats up 4-0. 

Kunes made a great defensive play in the top half of the second inning, as she dove to stop a grounder in the third base/shortstop hole, got to her knees and threw a ball to first baseman Madison Hardy who scooped it up on one hop for the out. 

Then in the top half of inning number three, junior right fielder Taylor Doyle went up against the right field foul ball fence to record the catch for the first out. Then after a single, Doyle then made a diving catch of a line drive in short right-center field, got up and then threw to first base before the runner got back and the double play ended the inning. 

The River Hawks scored their only run in the sixth inning when Emma Paul doubled, Natalie Ziegler singled and then Jessie Pugh hit a two out single scoring Paul. McKeague then recorded her fifth strikeout to end the threat. 

McKeague recorded her 13th win of the season, as she went the full seven innings, scattering just five hits, walked two batters and struckout six. She also got error free and well played defense from her supporting fielders. She also got a well called game from catcher Katelyn Bowman, as the senior calls all the pitches on her own, McKeagues’ off speed pitches kept the River Hawks off balance all day. 

“Katelyn does a great job behind the plate, she is probably only the second catcher I have let call the pitches. I mean we discuss things with her and what we are looking for, but it is up to her to call the pitches and she does a great job and especially today she was on the top of her game” added Caldwell. 

“When Camdyn (Weaver) hit the home run, it seemed to really break the ice and it picked up the momentum, as the rest of the girls seemed to feed off that and we got real aggressive at the plate. Then Harley (Kunes) hit the three run shot and that was also a huge shot in the arm to the team and got everybody really up. Thus, the great game played all around, as in that inning and the following one we turned in some really great defensive plays” stated Caldwell. 

Kunes led the Lady Wildcats with two hits, as she added a single to the three-run home run, while Madisyn Wian added two singles. Weaver had her solo home run, while Watson doubled and Myers along with Hardy added a single apiece to account for the winners eight hits. 

The Lady Wildcats (16-5) will now move into the PIAA Class 5A state semifinals on Monday to face District 7 winner-up Thomas Jefferson (14-8) who defeated District 1 runner-up West Chester East by a 3-1 score. Mondays’ game time and site to be determined by the PIAA. 

Thomas Jefferson lost to Armstrong 9-3 in the District 7 finals, the Jaguars were leading 3-2 heading into the final inning, before Armstrong rallied for seven runs to win it 9-3.