‘Cats Trail Early, Rally Late for 6-5 Eight Inning Victory

AdminMarch 23, 2018Last Updated: March 23, 2018

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MILL HALL – Saving their best for last, Central Mountain rallied late to overcome an early 5-0 deficit for a nail-biting 6-5 8 inning victory over DuBois to open the 2018 high school baseball season.

The Beavers touched up the CM starting pitcher, Tanner Spangler, for 5 hits and a walk to jump out to a 5-0 lead after two innings.

After that rough start for 1 1/3 innings, Zane Probst came on to relieve Spangler on the mound for 3 2/3 innings with Caleb shade working the final 3 innings for the Wildcats.

Though the ‘Cats yielded a substantial lead to DuBois, they never lost hope and continued to battle back while shutting down the Beaver offense in the process.

Central Mountain’s hard work and perseverance finally paid off in the bottom of the fifth inning when they plated three runs of their own.

In the fifth, Zach Eck led off for the ‘Cats and advanced to first base when he was hit by a pitch. Eck then moved over to second base on a throwing error when the Beaver defense tried to pick him off at first. Trevor Hanna then reached base safely on another DuBois miscue that also advanced Eck to third base.

Mahlik Houtz stepped into the batter’s box and smacked out a base hit to plate Eck and send Hanna to third. Asher Corl then hit a ground out that scored Hanna and advanced Houtz to move on over to third.

Troy Gardner then grounded out to short to plate Houtz to end the scoring in the fifth inning with Cm still trailing 5-3.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Central Mountain was still trailing by two runs but were confident they could battle some more. Battle they did.

Asher Corl singled with a fly ball to left field. Corl would then take advantage of another DuBois error, advancing all the way to third and would then score on a passed ball to close the gap to 5-4 … Wildcats still trailing.

Then with two outs on the board, Tanner Lavelle worked a walk to get on base for the ‘Cats. With 2 strikes, Rocco Stark belted a liner to center field that moved Lavelle over to third. Then Beavers had another costly miscue when a balk was called scoring Lavelle and moving Stark to second. The mistake knotted the score at 5-5 and both teams set up for extra innings.

In the top of the eighth inning the Wildcat defense retired the side in order to set the table for a win.

With two outs on the board and Trevor Hanna occupying first base, the DuBois defense intentionally walked Asher Corl. Then Troy Gardner worked a walk in four consecutive pitches. Evan Prough came to bat next and with a 3-1 count, stood fast on ball four for the walk that forced in Hanna to plate the winning run for the Wildcats.

Central Mountain will next see action on Monday, March 26, 2018 when they will host Mifflin County. That game was originally scheduled to be played in Lewistown, though due to the recent winter weather that hit Mifflin County their field isn’t quite ready so the schools opted to swap the location for the game and CM will travel to Mifflin County on May 7.