Wildcats’ Comeback Falls Short and Fall 8-5 to Pine-Richland
By Joe Walker
LOCK HAVEN – The Central Mountain Wildcats dug themselves a 7-0 hole against the Pine Richland Rams, but while the host never quit and kept chipping away, their comeback attempt fell short and the Wildcat season came to a close with an 8-5 loss in the first round of the PIAA Class 5A state tournament on the Lock Haven University Field.
The Wildcats finished the season with a very impressive 16-2 overall record, a District 6 Class 5A title and a Heartland Conference title on the resume. It was the Wildcats sixth District 6 title. The Rams are now 21-4 on the season and the WPIAL runner-up moves into the state quarterfinals. The Rams were the top seeded team in the WPIAL, but were upset in eight innings by third seeded Shaler in the WPIAL championship.
“Against a very good team you can’t get that far down early, we could have got 10-run, but the kids didn’t quit and fought back, we just made a few mistakes that hurt us. Pine Richland is a very good team, they are down from Class 6A this year for the first time,” commented a disappointed Head Coach Mike Kramer
The Rams jumped on the Wildcats in the first inning for three runs, as Wildcat starter Austin Frank struggled and surrendered four walks with one hit batter and gave up just one hit, but the Rams used that for a 3-0 lead. Darius Shade came in relief and got two strikeouts to end the Ram rally.
The Rams made it 7-0 in the top half of the third inning of Shade, as they recorded three hits, a walk, a sac fly and a Wildcat error to push four runs across. The Wildcats answered two runs in the bottom half of the innings, as they got singles from Felix Oquendo, Isaiah Maldonaldo, Blake Walker and Watt Probst to cut the Ram lead to 7-2.
The Rams upped the lead to 8-2 in the top of the fourth inning, as Sam Heckert tripled and Ben Housted followed with a double to score Heckert. The Wildcats came back with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Oquendo reached on a fielder’s choice, Jace Seltzer walked, Maldonado doubled and Brady Lavelle singled to make it an 8-4 game.
The Wildcats kept chipping away in the fifth inning, as Seltzer drew a one out walk, Maldonaldo walked and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Lavelle then hit into a fielders choice allowing Seltzer to score cut it to an 8-5 lead.
Blake Walker came on to pitch the final three innings for the Wildcats and kept the Rams scoreless by allowing just two hits, while striking out four batters. The Wildcats left five runners stranded in scoring position over the final three innings, as they just couldn’t get the hit or two they needed and thus fell 8-5.
Frank, Shade and Walker combined to scatter eight hits, struck out five batters but surrendered five walks and also hit one batter. Drew Biovin and Tristen Farrar worked the mound for the Rams, as they surrendered nine hits, walked four and struck out five in the win.
“Austin (Frank) just had one of those days where things just weren’t working, Darius (Shade) came in and got us out of a tough jam in the first inning, although he gave up some hits and runs, he allowed us some innings to work back into it. Blake (Walker) came in the final three innings and kept them scoreless, but we just couldn’t get the hits we needed down the stretch, but it was also a case of them (the Rams) making a couple good plays as well,” stated Kramer.
Offensively for the Wildcats saw Maldonaldo, Walker and Malaky Moyd all had two hits apiece for the Wildcats, Maldonaldo with a double. Lavelle, Watt Probst and Oquendo all added one single apiece.
Heckert and Austin Cwynar both had two hits apiece to lead the Rams, Hecklert with a triple. Anthony Mengine, Ben Husted, Breck Hemphill and Thomas Kapanowski all had one hit apiece, Husted and Hemphill both with a double.
It was the final game for 10 Wildcat seniors, as Nate Wian, Isaiah Maldonaldo, Brady Lavelle, Bryce Brungard, Jace Seltzer, Malaky Moyd, Hunter Hoy, Gavin Karstetter, Gage Laughner and Donevan Seyler all saw their Wildcat careers come to a close.
“We are going to miss the seniors, they elevated this program with their hard work and dedication. They are going to do very good things in their future lives and hopefully the younger players seen all that and know what they have to do to keep the program going in the direction these seniors kept it,” added Kramer about his outstanding senior class.
Returning next season for the Wildcats will be Felix Oqueno, Darius Shade, Dane Hanna, Blake Walker, Austin Frank, Watt Probst, Josh Ludlow, Aiden Jones and Caleb Stitzer.
NOTE: The Rams did not use their top pitcher in the game, as the coaches stated they had worked him a lot in the WPIAL tournament. That top pitcher is Keegan Diehl, who is 10-0 with a 1.29 ERA working 65 ⅓ innings, walking 33 and striking out 69 batters. Diehl is the son of former Bald Eagle-Nittany Panther athlete Luke Diehl and also the grandson of longtime former Panther football coach, the late Walt Diehl. The younger Diehl is heading to Baylor University on a full scholarship and pitch in the Big 12 for the Bears.
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