Central Mountain edges South, 3-2 in eight innings; set for playoff

By Tom Elling

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP, PA – It had all the earmarks of a play-off game. Two excellent teams facing off. Both averaging 8 runs while allowing 2. Both with strong pitching, solid hitting and dependable defenses.

South Williamsport was on a 12-game winning streak with just one blemish on their record (a 5-3 early season loss to Jersey Shore). Central Mountain had their ten-game streak stopped last week in a 1-0 setback to North Penn-Liberty then rebounding to down Selinsgrove (6-1) and a very under-rated State College team (6-5). Something had to give on Tuesday.

South produced a run in the top of the first when Gianna Goodman worked a lead-off walk. She promptly stole second and after an out, was driven home on an Alizabeth Schuler double to right. Winning pitcher Adalyn McKeague prevented further damage getting a pop up and a strikeout.

Central Mountain answered in the bottom of the inning as Kaitlyn Bowman doubled to left, moved up to third on a Madisyn Wian groundout to first and scored on a passed ball. The next two innings were scoreless although CM threatened in their half of the third. Bowman and Madisyn hit consecutive singles after one out, Southside pitcher Schuler worked a flyout and an infield pop to get out of that CM threat. Over those innings McKeague punched out five of the 6 batters she faced.

In the top of the fourth, the Lady Mountaineers‘ clean-up hitter Sage Lorson hit a solo rocket shot over the left field fence to put her team back on top. (McKeague, unfazed, struck out the next two batters she faced,)

In the bottom of the fifth, CM was equal to the task as Kelsey Burrows (in another ‘senior’ moment) got the rally going with a lead-off single. She moved to second on a groundout; advanced to third on a passed ball but was nailed at home on a fine play by Lady Mountie SS Aliega Riepple. Sophie Mitchell got aboard on an infrequent South miscue allowing Taylor Wahlers a plate appearance. Wahlers sliced an RBI-producing hit to right. Schuler coaxed a groundout to end the inning with the score knotted at 1.

South threatened in the 6th as Riepple lined a triple into the right field corner. Cool-headed McKeague worked a pop up, another strikeout and a grounder to third to strand to keep Riepple at stuck at third.

In the 7th, South had a threat going until an alert first baseman Madison Hardy launched a perfect throw to 3rd to nab Kendall Cardone trying to advance after an infield hit by Maddie Pinkerton.

The ‘Mountain could only respond in their 7th with a base on balls to Sophie Mitchell.

Fittingly, the game went into extra innings. Once again Coach Tom O’Malley’s team mounted a two-out threat. Schuler singled and swiped second. Sage Lorson drew a walk then McKeague recorded her 14th strike out to send it to the bottom of the eighth.

A one-out double by Mitchell gave the home team a chance for a walk off. Schuler went after a CM pinch hitter and got a strike out. Coach O’Malley, having observed the quick bat of Bowman elected to put her on first with the intentional walk. This also provided a force out situation. Next batter Madisyn Wian lined a single to right. It was hit so hard and played extremely well by Sage Lorson that Mitchell had no chance to score. Bases loaded and power-hitting Hardy at the plate. The sharp-eyed first sacker got into a hole but ultimately worked a bases-loaded walk to get the game-winning RBI, giving CM their 14th victory of the season. (McKeague picked up her 13th mound win.)

Central Mountain finished the regular season with a 14-3 record. South Williamsport went to 13-2 and according to the schedule has a three-in-a row schedule next week.

CM head coach Fred Caldwell noted the resiliency of his team saying they have the knack of answering almost every time an opponent scores on them. The veteran coach had high praise for his ace on the mound. “Adalyn seems to be even more determined to get the next batter after she gives up a hit; she has been a key player in our line-up.”

The line score was:

SW  100 100  00  —  2 Runs 5 hits and 3 errors

CM   100 100 01  — 3 Runs 9 hits and 1 error

Central Mountain will take on Hollidaysburg next Wednesday at St. Francis University at 2:30 p.m. in the District Six 5A Championship game.