TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Central Mountain softball's Katelyn Bowman, left, and Cora Myers, right, exchange a handshake during the team's 7-2 win over Williamsport on Thursday at Central Mountain.

We’ve arrived at that point in the spring sports season where players and teams have revealed who they really are. Make no mistake. At Central Mountain, it has become pretty clear that the softball and baseball teams are good, perhaps really good; the tennis team, while lacking depth, continues to improve and the track teams have some standout performers. It wasn’t a great week on the weather front but yet good enough for some events to continue while others were cancelled or rescheduled. So, how did it all unfold?

For the baseball team it was more of the same. More winning and that never gets old.

Mike Kramer’s team started the week with a 13-2, five-inning beatdown of Shamokin in which they collected 12 hits. CM busted the game open early with seven runs in the first and expanded that lead to 13-0 after four innings of play. Nate Wian was the Wildcats leading hitter going 4 for 4 while teammates Malaky Moyd and Darius Shade collected two hits apiece.

On Wednesday, the Cats hosted a strong Williamsport squad and held a narrow 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 6th inning before erupting for seven runs to bust the game wide open and ultimately closing out a 9-1 win. The Wildcats would collect just six hits in the contest but were aided by four Millionaire miscues. Austin Frank and Shade combined to hold the Williamsport offense in check from the mound.

The following day, Kramer took his troops to Jersey Shore to take on a solid Bulldog squad and came away with a 6-2 victory to finish off the week at 3-0 and run their season record up to 9-0. Tanner Lavelle was solid on the mound for the Cats as he tossed five innings of one-hit ball while striking out ten Bulldog batters. Moyd led the Wildcat offensive attack with 2 hits including a homerun.

The softball team registered a perfect week as well as it recorded two wins while a third game was suspended due to weather, with the Wildcats leading 10-0 at the time of the suspension in the fourth inning. They started the week in fine fashion with the destruction of Danville, defeating the Ironmen 13-3 behind an 18-hit attack over six innings.

Half of their hits were of the extra-base variety including home runs from Cirstyn Watson and Aubrey Eiler, who ended the day with a 4 for 5 effort at the plate. In addition to Watson and Eiler, multi-hit games were recorded by the Doyle sisters, Ava and Taylor as well as Camdyn Weaver. Joselyn Shultz went the distance in the circle to pick up the win.

In the suspended game at Selinsgrove on Tuesday, the Lady Cats hit three home runs and jumped out to the 10-0 lead. The dingers came off the bats of Cora Myers, Katelyn Bowman and Mallory Wunder. For Wunder, it was the first of her young career. Weaver was working on a shut-out in the circle. The conclusion of the game will take place prior to the regularly scheduled contest between the two teams at Central Mountain.

Thursday gave the Lady Cats an opportunity to avenge their only loss of the season at the hands of the Lady Millionaires of Williamsport. Avenge they did with a 7-2 victory. CM collected 9 hits and rode the standout pitching of Shultz to down the Millionaires. Multiple hits were registered by Watson and Aubrey Miller.

The Central Mountain boys tennis team was scheduled to play seven matches last week but the weather altered their plans and they played four instead.

On Monday, they were defeated by a solid Jersey Shore squad by a 4-1 score. Tim Brinker secured the lone CM win in that one with a superset win in the #2 singles spot, 7-6, 3-6, 10-8.

On Thursday, the team hosted a quad match at Central Mountain. After being defeated by Altoona 5-0 to begin the day, Coach Jeff Brinker’s team would recover to earn wins over Mifflin County and East Juniata by identical 3-2 scores. In both of those matches, CM’s points were registered by their singles players, Joey McCluskey, Tim Brinker and Wesley Cowart. Coach Brinker continues to see progress from his netters. “The boys are playing well,” said Brinker. “Consistency is the key. The boys have been improving as the season has progressed. They are playing their best tennis right now. Joe, Tim and Wesley have come up big at crucial times in their matches to win.”

There was just one scheduled track meet last week. However, despite the teams being on site and ready to roll, the weather blew in and caused a cancellation of the event. So, for the Central Mountain track and field teams, it was more preparation for this week that presents them with a loaded schedule.

Cat Scratchings: The Central Mountain sports world and Clinton County as a whole was saddened this past week by the passing of long-time teachers, coaches, mentors and friends, Tom Shafer, Mike Packer and Bob Weller. Each impacted local sports in countless ways. Their impact upon the community in general and local sports specifically will have a lasting impact. Might the memories of the people that they were and the impact that they had on so many bring comfort to their families as well as those who had the privilege of being taught by, coached by, mentored by, or who coached or worked with them.

Athlete of the Week: I’ve been watching these players closely and now is their time to be recognized. It’s a tie this week between Wildcat softballer Aubrey Eiler and baseballer Malaky Moyd.

Aubrey has been on fire at the plate and has been solid defensively for Taylor Thompson’s team. Moyd has been pounding the ball as well for Wildcat Baseball team but has also been solid defensively and on the basepaths.

“He brings energy and has a drive to succeed and expects it out of his teammates as well,” Coach Kramer said of his first baseman.

Team of the Week: Tight competition here between the baseball and softball teams but going to give a slight edge to the softball squad on the strength of avenging their only loss of the season. Make no mistake though, both teams are playing very well.

Looking Ahead: The track and field teams will be very busy this week as they host home meets on Tuesday and Thursday before competing in the LHU High School Classic on Saturday. The tennis team has singles districts followed by two matches so they will be busy as well. On the diamonds, softball has a big game with Jersey Shore. That one will be a Saturday morning contest at Central Mountain. The baseball team will compete as well on Saturday as they travel to Central Columbia to play in a tournament. Let’s go Cats!!