Lady ‘Cat Bats Crush Altoona, 13-2

ALTOONA – Central Mountain picked up a big road win by racking up 12 hits in a 13-2 whitewash of Altoona.

The Lady Wildcats (13-4, 8-1 PHAC) didn’t waste any time in getting the offense churning out runs. Coach Ben Trew shuffled the batting order a bit from the usual rotation with Josie Dershem leading off. Dershem got things rolling with a base hit, then designated player, Alyssa Fisher reached first base on an Altoona error. Morgan Wetzel brought her power game to the plate again today and crushed a 3-run homer to give the Lady ‘Cats an early 3-0 lead.

Skylar Smith followed on with a base hit, then with one out, Riley Houser cleared the outfield fence to plate herself and Smith producing a 5-0 lead for CM.

The Lady Mountain Lions would use a pair of walks and a pair of fielder’s choice plays to plate a run in the bottom of the first inning, still trailing Central Mountain 5-1.

The Lady Wildcats got the wheels rolling on the offense again in the top of the fourth inning. This time, Alexa Shultz got things started with a lead off single. Then with one out on the board Dershem doubled, followed by a base hit from Fisher to plate Shultz. Then to avoid another disaster, the Lady Mountain Lions intentionally walked Wetzel. That strategy would fail as Altoona did pick up their second out when Smith flew out to center field but Madison Knepp would follow on with a big double to increase the CM lead to 8-1.

Not to be outdone, Houser would go yard for the second time in the game to clear the bases and give the Lady Wildcats a 11-1 advantage.

In the top of the fifth, Central Mountain would score their final 2 runs with another double from Dershem, walks from Bailee Renninger, Linzy Carson and Houser and a fielder’s choice to go up 13-1.

Altoona would score their last run in the bottom of the fifth inning taking advantage of 2 walks and four passed balls to give CM the 13-2 win.

Caitlyn Brush handled the pitching duties for the Lady Wildcats allowed no Altoona hits, giving up five walks and striking out 3 Lady Mountain Lion batters. Brush also had a double on offense for CM.

Central Mountain will use the weekend to catch their breath and prepare to host District 6 rival, Bellefonte on Monday, May 14, 2018.