The result was a healthy mix of positives and growing pains, a performance that – even in defeat – warranted optimism.

While the Wildcats started strong and carried a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning, their then-bending defense would slow just enough for Williamsport to gain an edge late. Seven runs through the fifth and sixth gave it a three-run lead heading into the seventh, granting it enough cushion to scrape out an 8-6 win at Millionaire Mountain.

Losing at any time in the season obviously isn’t the desired result, but Central Mountain head coach Taylor Thompson didn’t see the defeat as a net negative. It’s an opener the Wildcats feel they can build on, with their positives proving potent and negatives coming with plenty of time to fix.

“I’m not super unhappy because we haven’t played yet. So, for us to come out and start the way we did against a team’s who’s three games deep, I think we did a good job,” said Thompson. “We knew defensively that we had some work to do and that this would be telling, and so our goal is to hit defense hard.”

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Williamsport's Emma Vollman (15) attempts a play on Central Mountain's Camden Weaver at third during a high school softball game at Williamsport on Tuesday

On the positive side, senior second baseman Aubrey Eiler led a fiery effort from the Wildcat bats. Against a seasoned pitcher in Williamsport’s Ashlyn Robinson and without prior competition, Central Mountain exploded for multiple runs in two separate innings and produced ten total hits, four of which Eiler was responsible for.

Eiler got the ball rolling in the third inning with a deep ball straight down the middle, lodging it straight over the head of centerfielder Kinsley Cannode for a one-out double. That would kick off a string of four straight extra-base hits for Central Mountain, as it got on the board and then some.

Shortstop Kirstyn Watson would follow Eiler up by batting her home on a grounded double to left. Then, Camdyn Weaver and Aubrey Miller generated RBIs on extra-base hits of their own, with Weaver producing a triple with a low liner to left. That string gave the Wildcats a 3-0 lead, and additional doubles from Eiler and Watson would grow it to 5-1 in the fifth.

With a first-inning single and seventh-inning home run, Eiler fell one triple short of a cycle while getting home on her last three at-bats. The performance was a headliner within a strong overall day for Central Mountain’s top of the order, which went 8-for-14 with five extra-base hits.

“I’m actually pretty proud of us for the first game,” said Eiler. “I think we hit the ball really well off one of the best teams we’re going to face this season. And I’m proud of myself for the hard work I put in this winter. It showed on the field.”

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Central Mountain's Camdyn Weaver throws during a high school softball game against Williamsport at Williamsport on Tuesday

“It’s reassuring to know I have them,” said Thompson when discussing the team’s top of the order. “I have full faith in those girls and want to get us hitting that way the whole way through the lineup.”

Ultimately, its early-game success defensively – led by starting pitcher Camdyn Weaver -just wouldn’t last. All the while, Williamsport had gotten it together on that side of the field, allowing just one base runner through the last two innings.

After getting out of first-inning hole and posting three scoreless innings, the Millionaires would get on the board in the fourth before running away with it in the ensuing innings. Four straight hits in the fifth, including doubles from Kinsley Cannode and Ashlyn Robinson, got Williamsport in striking distance, with Robinson’s two-RBI double narrowing the gap to 5-4. And in the sixth, it would double its score thanks in large part to four walks.

It’s a tough conclusion given the program had a momentous opening win on the horizon, but it still moves forward with plenty of confidence. On Thursday, the Wildcats will look to bounce back in the second game of a three-game road stint against rival Jersey Shore.

“We’re not really sure about set positions yet, but I think this game showed us how it’s going to be,” said Eiler. “I think we’ll just get better as time goes on.”

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Central Mountain's Aubrey Eiler (26) rounds first during a high school softball game against Williamsport at Williamsport on Tuesday

“We know we have our work cut out for us, and the teams around our area are always good,” said Thompson. “We’re ready for Thursday.”

Williamsport 8, Central Mountain 6

C. Mountain 003 020 1 – 6 10 0

Williamsport 000 134 X – 8 10 1

Camdyn Weaver and Mallory Wunder. Ashlyn Robinson and Payton Pennycoff. W – Robinson. L – Weaver.

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Central Mountain's Camdyn Weaver (20) lays down a bunt during a high school softball game against Williamsport at Williamsport on Tuesday

Top Central Mountain hitters: Aubrey Eiler 4-4, HR, 2 RBIs, RBI, 3 runs; Cirstyn Watson 2-4, 2 2Bs, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Camdyn Weaver 1-3, 3B, 2 RBIs, run; Aubrey miller 1-3, 2B, RBI. Top Williamsport hitters: Brenna Beck 2-3, 3B, RBI, 3 runs; Ashlyn Robinson 2-4, 2B, 3 RBIs; Emma Vollman 2-4, 2B, RBI, 2 runs; Zaelana Minor 2-4, 2B, RBI; Kinsley Cannode 1-2, 2B, RBI, run.

Records: Central Mountain 0-1 (0-1 Heartland-I); Williamsport 3-0 (1-0 Heartland-I)

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Central Mountain's Ava Miller fields the ball in right field during a high school softball game against Williamsport at Williamsport on Tuesday

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Williamsport's Brenna Beck (21) makes the tag at second on Central Mountain's Payton Hull (2) during a high school softball game at Williamsport on Tuesday

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Central Mountain's Payton Williams (8) attempts a play on Williamsport's Brielle Thorton (19) at first during a high school softball game at Williamsport on Tuesday

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Central Mountain's Camdyn Weaver throws during a high school softball game against Williamsport at Williamsport on Tuesday

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Central Mountain's Cristyn Watson (7) reaches third during a high school softball game against Williamsport at Williamsport on Tuesday

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Williamsport's Emma Vollman (15) lays down a bunt during a high school softball game against Central Mountain at Williamsport on Tuesday

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Ashlyn Robinson (11) arrives safely at first as Central Mountain's Payton Williams (8) attempts the tag during a high school softball game at Williamsport on Tuesday