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Central Mountain baseball rallies for win to defend District Title

By SHAREIK FLOWERS

sflowers@lockhaven.com

ALTOONA- Central Mountain’s offense was sluggish until it wasn’t.

The Wildcats were scoreless and hitless entering the fourth. They then exploded for five runs in the inning, and ended the game with 10-unanswered scores as they bested the Hollidaysburg Golden Tigers in the district championship, 10-3. The win was Central Mountain’s second consecutive district crown against Hollidaysburg.

“I’m extremely proud of this group of the guys,” Central Mountain coach Mike Kramer said. “We battled the entire game. We started off slow because their pitcher was on fire. But then we started putting good at-bats together, took advantage of some walks and got hits with runners in scoring position.”

In the second consecutive season hurler Zane Probst recorded the win in the district title game. Last night he fanned five batters in four scoreless innings.

“Zane has that confident attitude and he always expects to get things done,” Kramer said of Probst. “He works extremely hard and he’s got the right mindset.”

Hollidaysburg started strong but faded as the night dragged out. They built a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before pitcher Sam Servello struckout the side to carry the Golden Tigers’ 1-run lead into the second. Garret Kratzer extended that lead, 3-0, when he slapped a slapped a 2-run single into the middle.

Central Mountain remained unphased despite the shaky start. They were both hitless and scoreless entering the fourth but never doubted their chances at a comeback.

“We weren’t worried and we kept scrapping,” Kramer said. “Our goal was to just get [Hollidaysburg pitcher] Sam Servello out of the game and we did. It was big.:

Central Mountain’s patience at the plate in the fourth shifted the game’s momentum. Servello issued four free passes in the inning, including a bases-loaded RBI walk to Kaden Falls for CM’s first score of the game. Zach Eck then slapped CM’s first hit of the game, a 2-run single to even the contest, 3-3. Caleb Gampe then relieved Servello- but surrendered a 2-run single to Aaron Swartz as Central Mountain captured the lead, 5-3.

“Servello’s pitch count was getting up so we were being disciplined at the plate,” Kramer said of the scoring surge. “We were battling and fouling balls off in the full counts. And then we we got the opportunity we got some hits, scored some runs and and it was good baseball.”

Zane Probst’s night heated up once Sam Servello began to cool down. He ended the game throwing four scoreless innings and a Wildcat-high four strikeouts.

“It was just a great game called by coach Kramer and our catcher,” Probst said “And I just knew I had a solid defense behind me and they’ve done it all year for me. I just knew all I had to do was hit my spots and throw strikes, and if Hollidaysburg put it in play I knew I had a strong defense behind me to come in and make a play.”

The Wildcats put the game away in the sixth. After Kaden Falls smacked an RBI single, the Wildcats loaded the bases. Peyton Johnson then ripped a 2-run double into the outfield, and a Hollidaysburg fielding error added another score as CM built a 9-3 lead. Donovan Burnell finished the scoring with an RBI single on the right field line to advance CM’s lead, 10-3.

“You get those runs, and then Zane comes out and puts a zero on the board to finish the game out. I’m very happy, pleased and proud of this group of players,” Kramer said. “They’re a tremendous team and they’re in it for each other. I’m very happen for them.”

Central Mountain’s win completed its second straight district crown in as many seasons. And given the talent lost to graduation entering the season, Zane Probst believed the win was indicative of the roster’s depth.

“The emotions are high right now,” Probst explained. “It’s a new team and we lost a lot of key players last year. [Assistant] coach James Gallagher said we had to ‘rebuild the city.’ We lost a lot of guys last year, but it’s our team now and it’s our time to step in and prevail, and that’s what we did. We built our city and now we have to keep rolling with it.”

Central Mountain returns next Thursday at Slippery Rockery University against an opponent soon to be determined.

Central Mountain 10, Hollidaysburg 3

Hollidaysburg 102 000 0-3 9 1

C Mountain 000 505 x-10 5 1

Central Mountain: A Swartz, Z Probst & C Probst

Hollidaysburg: S Servello, C Gampe.

Top Hitters: Central Mountain- P Johnson, 1-2 3 RBI; A Swartz 1-3 2 RBI; Z Eck 1-3 2 RBI.

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