Late Rally Vaults Wildcats Past Williamsport 5-3

WILLIAMSPORT — It was a classic matchup of two state-ranked teams colliding head-on this evening and the visiting Central Mountain Wildcats used a 3-run final inning to hand Williamsport (8-1) a 5-3 loss, its first of the season.

The Wildcats’ Alex Garbrick and the Millionaires’ Evan Steele were both dominant on the mount, each tossing a 4-hitter. And when Williamsport plated two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 3-2 lead, Central Mountain’s 7-game win streak looked to be in jeopardy.

But with one out in the top of the seven the Wildcats struck: Brandon Miller drew a walk and Asher Corl singled to put two on, turn over the lineup and bring up CM lead-off hitter Toner Corl; Asher’s older brother responded with a 2-run double and the Wildcats had the lead at 4-3. They would add an insurance run as Garbrick singled and Toner Corl scored when Talon Falls grounded out, making it a 5-3 Wildcat lead. Garbrick returned to the mound and pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh and the Wildcats moved to 9-1.

Hits and runs were hard to come by. Central Mountain plated its first two in the fourth after a walk to Wyatt Koch and a single from Issac Porter. Ethan Watkins drove in one with a fielder’s choice.

Singles from Asher Corl, Porter and Cole Reeder, plus the double from Garbrick were all CM could muster off losing pitcher Evan Steele who had 30 strikeouts in 17 innings coming in; he fanned eight CM batters. Garbrick meanwhile piled up 10 strikeouts; he also surrendered three walks and hit two batters.

The Wildcats were ranked No. 10 in the state by MaxPreps at game time, Williamsport No. 2.

There is no rest for Central Mountain, the Wildcats scheduled to host Jersey Shore (4-3) at Mill Hall Community Park on Friday at 4:30 p.m. The game can be heard on therecord-online.