Central Mountain Baseball Sweeps Punxsutawney
By Tom Elling
MILL HALL- Good teams find ways to win. That axion was certainly true in
game two of an unusual two-game set at Mike Kramer Field at Mill Hall
Community Park this afternoon.
The first game was a continuation of a rain postponement at Punxsy. The
Wildcats had forged to a 6-2 lead then the game was stopped because of
weather conditions. Both teams agreed to finish the game when the Chucks
visited Central Mountain today.
The game picked up in the top of the third. After a quiet inning and a
only a single by CM in the 4th, the Chucks made it more interesting with
a run in the bottom of the 4th. The major factor was the dreaded
‘base-on-balls.’ One of those was a bases-loaded issue. That narrowed
the Wildcat lead to 6-3. The ‘Cats got that back in the top of the 5th,
as Blake Walker was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a Watt Probst
double. Malaky Lloyd the hit a deep fly to center with Walker easily
scoring.
In the bottom of the 5th, with back-to-back singles by Coy Martino and
Parker Stahlman. Each moved up a base on a wild pitch, then Martino came
across the plate on yet another WP. A slick 1-3 double play got the
‘Cats out of further trouble. The score was 7-4 at that point.
Neither team scored in the 6th. The 7th inning saw CM send 8 batters to
the plate, scoring 4 more runs. Brady Lavelle, Blake Walker, and Watt
Probst each contribute a single and again it was the wild pitches that
allowed CM to add to the score. Nate Wian delivered on a sac fly to
center to plate Malaky Moyd (who had walked). Punxy stranded Nevin Day
at second after he hit a leadoff double.
The final score: CM 11, Punxsutawmey 4. Gage Laughner got the win for CM
In game two, things were a bit tighter. CM scored two in the second.
Moyd singled. Darius Shade drew a walk and Bryce Brungard hit into a
fielder’s choice. After a strikeout, Jase Seltzer poked a two-run
single, but was thrown out when he tried to stretch it into a double.
They held that lead until a ‘twilight zone’ type inning developed for
the Chucks. After a nice 3-1 out, Isaiah Maldonado struckout Nate
Kendrick.. the latter actually swinging and missing a ball in the dirt,
getting to first base as the ball kicked back to the screen. Maldonado
then managed to get a conventional ‘K.’ But in a Yogi Berra deja vu all
over again, Punxsy’s Maddux Hetrick swung at a ball in the dirt and
managed to get to first before a throw could be made. Both gift runners
scored following a walk and a single to right by pitcher Day. The game
was knotted at 2. Two outstanding defensive plays kept the visitors from
taking the lead in the 6th. Third baseman Nate Wian snagged a potential
double at third and the Cat infield turned a 6-4-3 picture book double
play to ene the rally.
In the bottom of the 7th, dependable Darius Shade led off with a line
single to left. The Chuck manager Mike Dickey changed pitchers as
started Day was tiring and was near his 100-pitch limit.
Pinch runner Hunter Hoy was sacrificed to second by a perfect Bryce
Brungard bunt. Felix Oquendo and Jase Seltzer were walked then Maldonado
hit a sharp comebacker off the glove of reliever Coy Martino, scoring
Hoy with the winning run. Blake Walker (in relief) got the win; Day
took the hard loss.
Game one top hitters for the Wildcats were Brady Lavelle (3 for 4 with a
double and two RBI); Blake Walker (a 2-run HR, a single and 3 RBI) and
Watt Probst (3 for 4 with two doubles and 2 RBI).
In game two, Maldonado was 2 for 4 with the winning RBI; Blake Walker
(two singles); Jase Seltzer with that clutch two-run single back in the
2nd inning.
Central Mountain goes to 14-0, while Punxsutawney drops to 11-4.
The Wildcats next game is home against Shamokin on Monday.
