Wildcat Struggles Continue
DUBOIS — It was one of those “last team with the ball” games for Central Mountain at DuBois on Monday and unfortunately the host Beavers had the last at bat.
The Wildcats faltered late, losing a 14-13 shootout to the now 14-2 Beavers. The loss left Central Mountain at 9-6 on the year and in danger of falling to a three seed when the District 6 Quad-A playoffs begin next Thursday.
The contest was a wild affair from beginning to end. Central Mountain scored in five of its seven at-bats and led 13-11 heading into the bottom of the sixth. But DuBois scored in six of the seven innings, including one in the sixth and two in the seventh, a walk-off single giving the Beavers the win.
It wasn’t for lack of hitting the Wildcats lost. They pounded out 13 in all, led by Clayton Butler’s 3-for-5 game, including a double and an RBI; Dylan Kerstetter, 2-for-4 with a double; Ethan McGill, 2-for-4 with a double and 3 RBIs.
Four different Wildcat pitchers were called on by coach Mike Kramer and Zach Skrtich took the loss in relief.
The loss at DuBois followed a 9-4 win over St. Marys last Friday, that Wildcat victory snapping a 3-game losing streak.
That game saw St. Marys jump on Wildcat starter Cayden Stover in the first inning, putting together five hits and two Central Mountain errors to plate four runs.
But Stover, in his first start since March, steadied himself and followed up with six innings of 2-hit ball. Meanwhile Central Mountain plated two in the bottom of the first and four more in the bottom of the second to take a lead the Wildcats would not relinquish.
Eight of the nine Wildcat starters had base hits, including two from Stover, including a double, and two from Kenny Heverly who contributed three RBIs.
Stover went the distance for the win, striking out four and not walking a batter.
Five Wildcat seniors were recognized before the game: Stover, Evan Kinley, Darrin Masorti, Trevor Packer and Ryan Yost.
The most recent records for the four District 6 big school teams are State College, 13-4; Central Mountain, 9-6; Mifflin County, 10-8; Altoona, 7-9.
The district semi-finals are next Thursday at the home of the higher rated seed; the title game will be played at Blair County Ballpark Tuesday, May 27.
