‘Shore’s Russell Shuts Down Lady Wildcats, 4-0

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – The Central Mountain softball squad brought a team batting average of .436 into their Thursday home game with Jersey Shore. But the Lady Wildcats had no answer for the Lady Bulldogs’ Kylie Russell as she held CM to three singles on the way to a 4-0 win.

The Lady Bulldog sophomore kept the usually potent Central Mountain line-up in check, mixing speeds and letting her defense do their work behind her. She forced seven pop-up or fly ball outs in seven innings of work, striking out three and walking two. Russell made the clutch pitches when needed as CM left six runners on base. The home team also had the prospective tying run in the fifth inning tagged out in a run-down off third base.

Meanwhile the Jersey Shore offense did enough to earn the win, taking advantage of another porous day for the Central Mountain defense which committed five errors and three unearned runs. Caitlyn Smith was the hard-luck loser, going the distance in giving up six hits, striking out one and walking two.

‘Shore used two singles, an error and a bases-loaded walk to Lexi Schuler in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead which held through the first six innings. Coach Randy Smith’s team would use a lead-off pop-fly double from Alyssa Stover, some shaky Lady ‘Cat defense and RBI singles from Haley Stetts and Gabby Vuocolo to help plate three insurance runs in the top of the seventh.

Central Mountain had singles from Brush, Maddie Knepp and Alexa Shultz but Russell kept them spread out; she also got a great catch from left-fielder Stetts to take away extra bases from Knepp.

Vuocolo had two singles for ‘Shore, as did McKenzie Russell. Stover had a double and Stetts her single.

With the win Jersey Shore moved to 3-0, 2-0 in the Heartland Conference. Central Mountain fell to 2-3, 1-1 in conference play. Central Mountain will next host Altoona on Monday, April 16. Jersey Shore travels to Loyalsock for a game this Saturday.