Seniors lead Wildcats to come-from-behind 4-3 softball win over State College
By Tom Elling
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP, PA – It wasn’t easy. In fact, Central Mountain was trailing by a run in the bottom of the sixth, 3-2, and they were being held to just one hit. (We’ll get to that hit shortly). But ultimately Monday the Lady Wildcats earned a 4-3 senior day win over visiting State College.
The visiting Lady Little Lions jumped out early scoring two runs in the top of the first off starting pitcher Alison Lininger. Jess Hawbaker beat out an infield hit to lead off. Then after a foul out, Addie Harpster rapped a single to left, followed by clean-up hitter Tori Kroboth’s double to right, scoring Hawbaker. Ava Babcock scored on a ground-out. Lininger ended the inning by getting a strike-out.
Central Mountain answered in their half of the first. Kaitlyn Bowman drew a lead-off walk. Madisyn Wian hit into a fielder’s choice and one a one-one pitch stole second. Now the aforementioned ‘hit.’ Madison Hardy, who has been a deep threat since she came up two years ago, slammed what may have been the most unique of her seven dingers this year. She hit a drive to deep center. The SC centerfielder did manage to get a glove on the ball and almost made a remarkable catch, However, the ball skimmed off the top of her glove and dropped over the fence for a two-run producing blast.
Adalyn McKeague came in to pitch in the second. She held the Felines scoreless and hitless until the 6th, striking out 8 during that stretch. But in the 6th, State rallied after an out with back-to-back doubles. Once again, it was Harpster who got things going. She ripped a double to the right-center fence and scored on Kroboth’s second double of the day. Kroboth stayed at second as CM centerfielder Wian made a running catch and threw a perfect strike to third. After a walk to Gabi Todd, McKeague got out of further trouble with a huge strike out.
Central Mountain to this point had just the one hit. After an infield popup, Harley Kunes drew her third walk of the day. Haleigh Peters was called on to pinch run and moved to second on a passed ball. The next batter flied to center and then two of the senior leaders came through. Audrey Walker hammered a double to left with Peters scoring the tying run. Kelsey Burrows gave the Lady Cats their first lead with a line RBI shot to center. That left it up to the hard-throwing McKeague. Addie got two easy outs with a fine foul pop-up catch by Gracie Saar and a tenth strike-out. State wasn’t done yet. Hawbaker roped a double to left, but McKeague confidently got a comebacker to end the game, giving the Lady Wildcats their 13th win on the season.
Coach Fred Caldwell was complimentary to his four seniors. “…No better time for the seniors. It was Senior Day and our seniors were a huge part of the win. This is the kind of a game that will make us a better team.. I told the team getting behind is not the end of the world.”
The veteran coach added, “Tomorrow’s game (at home Tuesday with South Williamsport) will be another tough game. These are what we need to get ready for the play-offs.”
Extra Inning: State high lost their 8th game of the season by a single run. Their head coach is Shawn Herncane, an LHU grad. Shawn’s uncle Bob (Herncane), who was a starter at the PIAA State Track meet for years, is also an LHSC grad and was a classmate of yours truly.
