Wildcats pull out 2-1 win at Mike Kramer Field
MILL HALL, PA – The Central Mountain baseball team made the dedication of Mike Kramer Field at Mill Hall Community Park a memorable one on Friday, scoring two late runs to pull out a 2-1 win over visiting Mifflin County. The contest between the District 6 foes were preceded by a dedication ceremony, naming the field in honor of Wildcat coach Mike Kramer who has directed the program since its first year in 2001.
Once the game began, underdog Mifflin County (5-14) gave the Wildcats everything they could handle. Huskie’s left-hander Ryan Hine let his defense do the work, holding Central Mountain to just one hit, a third inning single from Nate Helms, through the first five innings. The Huskies picked up an unearned run in inning number two, using a leadoff double by Ty Plank, followed by a an errant throw on a bunt, resulting in an unearned run off Wildcat starter Chase Brush.
The game stayed 1-0 into the bottom of the sixth when the Wildcats manufactured some two-out, two-run lightning to take the lead. Braylen Corter led off with a single to left, followed by a strikeout and a flyout. At that point Kelvin Probst was called on to pinch hit and boomed an RBI triple to deep right field, scoring Corter and tying the game at 1-1. Gabe Johnson followed with a soft groundball to Huskies third baseman Xavier Smith who was able to field the ball but had no play as Probst crossed the plate with the go-ahead run, Johnson on first with an RBI single.
Johnson came in to pitch the top of the seventh, which proved to be an adventure. There was a walk, an infield error and another walk and Mifflin County had the bases loaded with no one out. Johnson collected himself and struck out the next three batters, two swinging and one looking, to preserve the win.
Brush went the first three, giving up two hits and one unearned run, walking one, hitting one and striking out four. Ashton Bennett then pitched three shutout innings, giving up a single, striking out three, walking four and hitting one, to pick up the win; Johnson following with his high-wire seventh inning.
The three Wildcat pitchers held MC to three hits but gave up seven walks and hit two batters, the Huskies leaving 15 runners on base.
Central Mountain managed four hits off the hard-luck loser Hine, singles from Helms, Johnson and Corter and the triple from Probst.
Central Mountain, now 17-1, will play at Midd-West next Monday and at Jersey Shore next Tuesday, the final games of the regular season. A win at ‘Shore will give the Wildcats undisputed possession of first place and another Heartland Conference title. The District 6 playoff pairings are also expected next Tuesday. The Class 5A title game is scheduled for the Bald Eagle Area field on May 22, Hollidaysburg likely to be the foe.
MC 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 = 1-3-0
CM 0 0 0 0 0 0 x = 2-4-2
