Wildcats hold off Lancers to go 7-0
MILL HALL, PA – The undefeated Central Mountain baseball team was challenged by underdog Loyalsock Tuesday at Mill Hall Community Park, but the Wildcats were equal to the challenge, coming from behind to post as 6-3 win.
The 7-0 Wildcats fell behind when the Lancers used three singles to post two runs in the top of the first. Central Mountain answered with one in the bottom of the inning on an RBI groundout from Stover, following singles from Kevin Grenninger and Gabe Johnson.
The Wildcats used a 3-run third to pull ahead for good. Grenninger and Stover set things up with singles and Braylen Corter drew a walk. Elek Fravel drilled a 2-run, two-out single to put the Wildcats up, 3-2 and Levi Schlesinger followed with an RBI single to stretch the lead to 4-2 after three.
The Lancers got to within one at 4-3 in the top of the fifth but CM answered with a Corter single and stolen base and an RBI single from Elek Fravel. The Wildcats’ final run came in the bottom of the sixth inning. Schlesinger singled and his runner Cayden Culvey was sacrificed to second by Connor Foltz. Culvey came around to score on a 2-out single from Nate Helms.
Meanwhile Brady Myers and Chase Brush combined on a 6-hitter, striking out 17 batters between them. Myers, in his first start, went 4.1 innings, giving up the six Lancer hits and three runs, striking out 11 and walking three. Brush, in his first relief appearance, relieved Myers in the top of the fifth with the bases loaded and one out and struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning.
Brush retired all eight batters he faced, striking out six and inducing two ground balls to first baseman Johnson.
Meanwhile the Wildcats produced 11 hits, led by Elek Fravel’s 3-for-3, three RBI day. Schlesinger finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and Grenninger had two singles. Other hits came from Helms (with an RBI), Johnson, Stover and Corter.
Kaden Rodarmel and Ethan Nagy had two hits each to pace the Lancers.
Coach Mike Kramer liked how his team responded in a rare tight game so far this season. “We faced some adversity. Loyalsock battled and put some pressure on us; I was pleased how we kept our composure…we played from behind, got the lead and extended the lead.” He was also more than happy with the multiple two-out hits from his squad and the combined effort from Myers and Brush on the mound.
Central Mountain will be off until next Monday, April 17, traveling to Sunbury to take on Shikellamy (1-4). The Lancers dropped to 2-4-1 with the loss.
L 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 =3-6-1
CM 1 0 3 0 1 1 x =6-11-2
