Kunes drives in four to lead Central Mountain softball over Bellefonte
By Tom Elling
LORETTO, PA – The last time Central Mountain played the Lady Raiders, they took an early lead then hung on for an 8-7 win. This time on Wednesday the District Six Class 5A title was on the line. Much like the previous script, the ‘Cats took an early 5-0 lead, primarily off the hard hitting of Harley Kunes, who belted a two-RBI triple in the bottom of the first then followed with another two RBI, two-out liner over short in the bottom frame of the second. That second inning turned out to be huge for Central Mountain. Adalyn McKeague fouled off several full count pitches before rapping a single up the middle after one out. Coach Fred Caldwell inserted Taylor Wahlers as a courtesy runner. Gracie Saar followed with a hard bunt/swing for a hit (which just dropped on the line over the first baseman’s head. Caitlyn Watson drew her second base on balls and the bases were loaded. thanks to a wild pitch and head’s-up running by Wahlers, the home team scored their 3rd run. After a pop-up out, Kunes delivered with her second big hit and expanded the lead to 5-0.
That would be all the runs Central Mountain would score, but it proved to be enough.
Bellefonte scored a run in an error-filled 6th inning. Adalyn McKeague shook off those miscues and got out of a bases-loaded jam with a strike-out and a groundout to third. Bellefonte did get two of their 6 hits in the inning.
Taking a 4-run cushion into the 7th. CM held on despite allowing two more Bellefonte runs. Maria Cotter walked to open the Raider inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Madison Melius lined a single to left (her second of the game) plating Cotter. Tori Rickert continued the comeback with her second hit. She took second on the throw to third. McKeague got the next batter with her 7th strike-out. Taylor Brown got the third run in on an infield ground-out. McKeague got another infield grounder to end the game- setting the final at 5-3 and the District 6 Class 5A championship.
Ironically, it was Bellefonte last year taking the title from Central Mountain by a 5-3 score.
As mentioned, Melius and Reichert had four of the Raider hits (all singles). Sienna Barnhart and Emma Shawley had the other two.
For the winners, Kunes was three-for-three, while Kelsey Burrows, McKeague and Gracie Saar added singles.
Alaina Smith after a rough start, giving up four walks and 4 hits in the first two innings, settled down and shutout the ‘Cats the rest of the way. She did have two outstanding defensive catches by LF Madison Ripka behind her. The second against the fence on a juggling, back-to-the field grab off a smash by Caitlyn Watson, most likely saving two runs.
McKeague got the win (her 11th of the season), allowing three runs- two earned. She struck out seven and walked three. Smith took the loss- giving up five earned runs on 6 hits. She had five strikeouts and 4 walks. The Raiders turned a slick double-play in the fifth to quiet a Wildcat threat.
Coach Caldwell took two important timeouts to settle his team down and remind them they had the lead and to just play for one out at a time. They settled down and did as the coach instructed.
Central Mountain will travel to DuBois , Tuesday, May 31st to play a 13-4 Lady Beaver squad. Their coach Denny Nosker was on hand to scout the game.
