Wildcats Explode Late to Beat Williamsport 9-1
By Joe Walker
MILL HALL – It was a pitchers’ duel until the bottom of the sixth inning, when the Central Mountain Wildcats exploded for seven runs to come away with a 9-1 win over the Williamsport Millionaires and allowed their unbeaten season to extend to an 8-0 record.
The Millionaires were the first to break a scoreless game, as they tallied a run in the top of the fourth inning. Cole Dietrick reached base by a hit by pitch and then Grant Vilello walked to put runners on first and second. A Wildcat error allowed Dietrick to go to third and then score on a single by Wyatt Bair for the 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats finally got to Millionaire starting pitcher Dietrick in the fifth inning, a Jace Seltzer was hit by pitch and then Isaiah Maldonaldo walked. Both runners then moved up one base on a passed ball and Brady Lavelle followed by hitting a hard grounder to shortstop that was mishandled and the error allowed both runners to come in for a 2-1 Wildcat lead.
The Wildcats exploded in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Malaky Moyd was hit by a pitch, Felix Oquendo reached on an error and then Bryce Brungard singled to score Moyd. Darius Shade singled to load the bases and Maldonado singled to score Oqueno and Brungard.
Lavelle followed with a single to center that was mishandled allowing pinch runner Hunter Hoy and Maldonado to score. Blake Walker then doubled down the left field line to score Lavelle to give the Wildcats their seventh run and the solid 9-1 lead.
Austin Frank started on the mound for the Wildcats, as he went 4 ⅓ innings and scattered four hits and allowed just the one run. He struck out seven batters, walked three and hit two batters. Shade came in relief and again met the call, as he worked the final 2 ⅔ winnings, allowing just one hit, fanned two, walked two and picked up the win in relief.
Dietrick pitched a strong game for the Millionaires, as he worked five innings and allowed just one hit. He recorded 10 strikeouts, walked two, hit three batters and took the loss as he surrendered four unearned runs. The Wildcats then got to relievers Wyatt Bair and Ryan Shur for five hits and took advantage of four Millionaire errors in the big sixth inning.
The Wildcats had six hits, as Maldonaldo, Lavelle, Walker, Brungard and Shade all had one hit apiece, with Walker having a double. The Wildcats also reached base on four Millionaire errors.
“Two quality pitchers were on the mound today and its nice to watch, but I like it when we score more runs. We just kept battling and kept our minds in the game and eventually we got things going with the bats”. Commented Wildcat head coach Mike Kramer after the win.
“Austin (Frank) is a bulldog, I love that kid, he just wants the ball and wants to compete, he goes right at them and he has many pitches he can throw for strikes. Darius (Shade) came in with runners on base, and got the outs and quieted them down, which kept the momentum in our favor. He just has the confidence in his pitches and goes at them and trusts his defense” added Kramer.
The Wildcats are back in action Thursday, as they will travel to Jersey Shore and battle a very good Bulldog team. The Wildcats are now 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the Heartland Conference Division I. The Bulldogs are 5-4 on the season and 1-3 in the Heartland. The Wildcats will travel to Selinsgrove in another Heartland Conference game next Monday, April 21.
WSMPT 000 100 0 – 1 R – 5 H – 5 E
CMHS 000 027 x – 9 R – 6 H – 1 E
