MILL HALL – The Wildcats were En Fuego!

Friday, the Central Mountain offense was alive and well as it exploded for ten runs in the second and three in the third en route to a 13-3 victory over the visiting Chucks of Punxsutawney.

“I’m very pleased with how they were taking their approach at the plate. We’ve been working hard on that actual aspect of the game and working through counts, and I’m extremely pleased with how they battled,” said Central Mountain coach Mike Kramer.

“They went deep into counts, they didn’t give up. They competed. Fouled off tough pitches, and found a way to get on base, whether it be by hit or by walk. I’m very pleased with that. And it was up and down the lineup today.”

In the first inning, the Chucks kicked things off by posting a run in their first at bats.

Maddox Hedrick led off with a shot into right. He moved up a base on a hit by Nevin Day. With both runners going on the play, Parker Stahlman grounded to short as the Wildcats just missed completing a double play.

Stahlman ended with the RBI, as Hedrick scored from second. But defensively, the Wildcats halted the potential barrage from there with a strikeout and pick off of Day at second.

Offensively, Chucks were at it again in the second, adding to their one-run lead.

Landen Temchula led things off with a walk. He later scored on an RBI single from Lucas Menitti. Menitti was replaced by courtesy runner Garrett Jacobson.

Ryan, who reached on an error, scored on a soft hit to third by Hetrick, upping the team’s lead to 3-0 as the Wildcats came up to bat for the second time in the contest.

Back rallied Central Mountain, as they got some early production from Watt Probst. Probst singled to start things off. Then, Aidan Jones blasted a moonshot double deep in the gap, putting runners on the second and third with no outs.

With one out, Probst was able to hustle home on a Punxsy miscue. Then, Josh Ludlow was hit by a pitch and Yafran Sanchez blasted a two-RBI double into left to tie the contest at 3-3.

They certainly weren’t quite done.

Leadoff hitter Felix Oquendo put down a perfect suicide squeeze, scoring Dane Hanna. Ludlow then scored on an attempt to catch Oquendo stealing second, with the ball being overthrown. That sent Sanchez to third, who’d go on to easily when Darius Shade blasted a shot into center, all with just one out.

With a walk of Probst, the Wildcats had the bases loaded with Jones up to bat for the second time in the inning. Jones was then walked, granting him an RBI, and Punxsutawney went to its bull pen, with Ryen being replaced by hurler Nolan Stahlman.

That set the stage for Luke Nonemaker, who blasted a two-RBI single to right, scoring Blake Walker and Probst. When the dust settled at the end of the inning, there was a total momentum shift with Central Mountain harboring a 10-3 advantage.

Nolan Karstetter came in to relieve starting pitcher Austin Frank and immediately was challenged, but his teammates helped send the Chucks down 1-2-3 in the third. The Wildcats added three more in the third and held on from there to take home the 13-3, five-inning victory.

With the win, Central Mountain improves to 7-1. Next up for the Wildcats is a home game Monday against Williamsport.

Central Mountain 13, Punxsutawney 3

(5 INNINGS)

Punxsutawney 120 00 – 3 5 4

C. Mountain 010 3X – 13 9 2

WP: Austin Frank. LP: Scout Ryen.

Top Punxsutawney batters: Hetrick 2-3, run, RBI. Top Central Mountain batters: Watt Probst 2-2, 2 runs; Yafran Sanchez 2-2, 2B, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Aidan Jones, Blake Walker 2B.