TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Central Mountain softball players celebrate an out at the mound during an O'Leary Tournament game against DuBois on Saturday. The Wildcats won 6-3.

A clean sweep for the baseball team, a softball tourney championship, the Bald Eagle Track and Field Invite and a quad-tennis meet. Those were the themes of the past week in the land of Central Mountain sports. Let’s recap the action.

The tennis team continued to display competitiveness despite more tough losses as they went 1-4 on the week.

After a Monday loss to Milton by an all-too familiar score of 3-2 where they got wins from their number No. 1 and No. 2 singles players, Tim Brinker and Brayden Spedding, they lost by the same score to Shikellamy the next day. In that match, it was wins from the Brinker boys, Tim and Ben, in the No. 1 and No. 3 singles slots that earned the Wildcats their two points.

On Thursday, hosting a quad meet at the Gibson Courts, the CM netters went 1-2 with a win over Juniata and losses to Mifflin County and Altoona. Individual wins in the victory over Juniata came from Joey McCluskey at Singles No. 1 and Tim Brinker at Singles No. 3, as well as the team’s No. 1 doubles duo of Brayden Spedding and Ben Brinker.

On the track and in the field, the Central Mountain track and field teams fell to Shamokin on Tuesday, the boys by a score of 99-51 and the girls, 93-57.

For the girls, first-place finishes were recorded by Grace Keohane (800-meter run), Cora Svec (1600-meter run), Macia Owens (100-meter hurdles), and Sarah Hall (300-meter hurdles_. The CM ladies also captured the 1,600 relay (Keohane, Hall, Lane Walker and Vivian Wilt) and 3,200 relay (Svec, Emma Wolfe, Lucy Walker and Keohane) relays.

Zaylie Warren took two seconds in the high jump and 400-meter dash. Numerous other CM ladies had second and third-place finishes to score points towards the Wildcats’ team score.

In the boys meet, the Wildcats got first place finishes from Wyatt Heeman (400-meter dash), Damien Winner (3200-meter run), Brayden Bird, (discus), and Ethan Shetler (javelin).

The boys’ team of Heeman, Brody Rhine, Ricky Rohrbach and Shayden Hill captured the 1,600 relay for the Wildcats. Those four runners took the top four spots in the 400-meter run as well as the Cats swept the event.

Like in the girls meet, the boys registered multiple runner-up and third-place finishes in events. Despite being winless on the season, both squads, standing at 0-3, continue to see individuals improving their performances from meet to meet.

On Friday, the CM athletes competed in the Bald Eagle Invite at Lock Haven University. The competition was deep, but the CM athletes put forth some quality performances.

Top ten finishes were recorded by Damien Winner (2nd in 2000-meter steeplechase), Macia Owens (second in 100-meter hurdles and seventh in 300-meter hurdles), Sarah Hall (tenth in both the 100 and 300-meter hurdles), Wyatt Heeman (fifth in the 400-meter dash), Shayden Hill (eighth in 400-meter dash), Ethan Shetler (eighth in javelin), Brayden Bird (eighth in discus), Brayden Stahl (ninth in long jump), Grace Keohane (tenth in 1600-meter run) and Sarah Lavalle (tenth in 2000-meter steeplechase). The boys’ 1,600 relay team finished fourth and 400 relay team took fifth place.

For the baseball team, it was a solid 3-0 week.

On Monday at Jersey Shore, Aiden Jones tossed a one-hitter through a complete game and knocked in two runs on a 2-4 effort at the plate to lead the Wildcats to a 6-0 victory. Jones’ gem included ten punch-outs.

On Wednesday, the Wildcats won their sixth straight since dropping their opener, destroying league foe Shamokin in run-rule fashion, 17-2. CM scored a staggering 15 runs in the third inning.

CM batters were making contact as they connected for 11-hits. Darius Shade, Aiden Jones and Dane Hanna collected two each. Austin Andrus got the win on the mound for the Wildcats.

To conclude the week, the Wildcats earned their second straight run-rule win, scoring ten runs in the second inning and three more in the third to defeat visiting Punxsutawney on Friday afternoon in Mill Hall, 13-3.

Central Mountain collected nine hits in the contest, with Yayfran Sanchez and Watt Probst with two each. Austin Frank and Nolan Karstetter handled mound duties for CM.

The softball team started the week on a down note as they fell to Williamsport for the second time this season, this time looking to draw even with the Millionaires in the race for the PHAC crown.

It was pitcher’s duel for most of the game as neither team could generate much in terms of scoring opportunities. But a late inning two-run homer from the visitors provided the separation needed to defeat the Wildcats for the second time this season, 3-1.

CM’s offense was again limited in the loss. However, they didn’t let that loss linger. Hosting Selinsgrove the next day, it made quick work of the Seals, jumping out to an 8-0 lead after just one inning.

Pitcher Camdyn Weaver limited the Seals’ offense, and her team continued to add on, as it won the contest by run-rule, 11-1. Aubrey Eiler, Mallory Wunder and Payton Williams each collected two hits to lead the offensive attack.

On Saturday, the Wildcats traveled to Bellefonte to participate in a tournament where they played Dubois and State College. CM picked up two wins over solid programs, defeating Dubois 6-3 and State College 8-7 to win the tournament.

While the offense was solid, Camdyn Weaver was once again a warrior in the circle for the Lady Cats.

In the opener, CM fell behind early by three runs before rallying to score six unanswered runs to secure the win. Weaver and Cirstyn Watson both slugged home runs to lead the CM attack. Payton Hull had two doubles while Carleigh Davis slapped two singles.

In the championship contest, CM jumped out to an 8-1 lead only to see State College score six unanswered runs of its own to come within a run. But Weaver buckled down and kept State College from scoring from there.

Mallory Wunder had a single and double with three RBIs in the game while six other Wildcats registered hits. With the wins, Central Mountain pushed their record to 6-2 on the season.

Coach Taylor Thompson is pleased with the progress of her team and specifically noted the offense picking it up and the solid pitching of Weaver as the main reasons for the team’s surge. Thompson believes that if they can develop consistency with their hitting and defense, they should be able to keep things rolling.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Aiden Jones had a solid week for the baseball team, instrumental in helping the Wildcats finishing it 3-0. At the plate, he was 5-for-7 with three walks and four RBIs. Additionally, he pitched a complete game one-hitter while striking out ten in the Wildcats’ win over Jersey Shore.

Tim Brinker is worth of recognition for his consistent play on the courts for the Wildcat netters, so he gets an honorable mention this week.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

The Baseball team was solid with a 3-0 record for the week two of which were complete beat downs of their opponents. Runner-up recognition to the softball team for their tournament championship to cap of a busy week.

FORMER WILDCATS ON CAMPUS

Former Lady Wildcat Madison Hardy is a sophomore on the LHU Softball team. For the season, she has played in 35 games and has hit at a .286 average, slugging eight doubles and five home runs while driving in 23 runs.

The Doyle sisters, Taylor and Ava, are freshmen on the Mount Aloysius softball team this spring. Both have appeared in 16 games thus far.

Taylor is currently hitting .308 with three doubles and a triple while scoring nine runs and knocking in six more. Ava is hitting at a .286 clip with three doubles, four RBIs and eight runs scored. Taylor was also a member of the Mount’s basketball team.

LOOKING AHEAD

The track teams take on rival Jersey Shore on Tuesday. The baseball team hosts Williamsport in a key league game Monday. Softball has three games this week including a big one against Jersey Shore.

The tennis team participates in the District 6 Championships on Tuesday before hosting a doubleheader against Selinsgrove on Wednesday. There will be plenty of Middle School and JV action taking place as well. Get out and support he athletes and teams. Go Wildcats.