Wildcats KO ‘Shore, 14-1

MILL HALL, PA – It was anticipated as an early season showdown at Mill Hall Community Park on Monday, Central Mountain and Jersey Shore going with their pitching leaders in a quest to stay in the hunt in the Heartland Conference title chase.

But the day belonged to Central Mountain. After surrendering an unearned run in the top of the first, Central Mountain struck back with nine in the bottom of the inning, four more in the second and one more in the fourth for a stunning 14-1 win, ended after five by the 10-run rule.

The Bulldogs did not help their cause, three pitchers walking 10 Wildcats and hitting two more. Meanwhile CM starter Aidan Major and reliever Cru Stover combined on a 2-hitter, both off Stover in his three innings of work. Major picked up where he left off in a 1-hitter in his last outing last week. He did not surrender a hit, just the unearned run off two first inning Wildcat errors; he struck out five. Stover struck out six and did not walk a batter.

Major helped his cause with a second inning grand-slam homerun, a rare feat at the fenceless field. The ball carried on the fly into the distant parking lot adjacent to the Mill Hall Community Pool in left-center field, a feat accomplished by only a handful of high school players in the history of the field.

Nate Helms, in his first start, drilled a 3-RBI double in the Wildcats’ 9-run first inning. That inning saw ‘Shore go through three pitchers, the Wildcats benefitting from seven walks that inning.

Other ‘Cat hits came from Noah Grenninger, Peyton Johnson, Cy Probst, Ashton Probst and Blade Myers, all singles. Cy Probst was shaken up while catching in the second inning and had to leave the game, but coach Mike Kramer said afterwards he should be fine. Bulldog hits came from Karter Peacock, a single, and Connor Griffin, a double.

Coach Kramer said he was pleased with the Wildcat bounce-back after a rough top of the first. He called the victory “a great team win.” Kramer was able to substitute freely in the game’s final innings. He also said he knows Jersey Shore is a much better team than they showed on Monday.

The Wildcat jayvees also had a great Monday: a12-0 win, Kevin Grenninger pitching a no-hitter.

Central Mountain, now 4-3 and the winners of three in a row, is to travel to Shikellamy (4-3) on Wednesday and host Montoursville (4-1) on Friday. ’Shore dropped to 3-3 with the loss.

JS    1  0  0  0  0 = 1-2-2

CM 9  4  0  1  X = 14-7-2