And with Central Mountain featuring one of its youngest rosters in recent memory, that mentor role is especially crucial. So, Walker essentially produced the entire package again Wednesday at Millionaire Mountain.

Walker threw five shutout innings, combining with Darius Shade on a six-hit shutout, belted a crucial seventh inning RBI single and helped Central Mountain defeat Williamsport, 3-0 in an early-season showdown between perennial HAC-I title contenders. Aiden Jones and Yayfran Sanchez both collected two hits, Jones put Central Mountain (1-1, 1-0) ahead to stay with a fourth inning RBI double and the Wildcats cooled a Williamsport team which had scored 27 runs its first two games.

“He has excessive confidence because of his preparation and his mindset which is awesome,” Central Mountain coach Mike Kramer said. “He just stays there, level-headed. Hopefully. the young guys are watching him to see how to step on the mound and compete.”

An all-state infielder last year, Walker produced a pitching clinic in his five innings, tying up a potent offense which was two days removed from cranking out 12 hits. Walker brilliantly changed speeds, pounded the strike zone and struck out six while walking just one.

Felix Oquendo of Central Mountain slides safely into home base and scores in the top of the 7th inning in Williamsport. Central Mountain won, 3-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Most impressive, though, was how Walker performed when Williamsport threatened. The right-hander stranded runners in scoring position three times in five innings, including twice at third. Williamsport (2-1, 2-1) went 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position against Walker and he induced a line out to center fielder Felix Oquendo on his final pitch, stranding second and third in the fifth.

“There were some at-bats where I struggled a little bit, but I would say one of my strengths is to stay calm and composed,” Walker said. “That’s what got me through today.”

Walker has excellent chemistry with all-state catcher Watt Probst and the two were locked in all afternoon. No situation was too big and Walker seemingly grew stronger as the game continued, fanning two batters in each of his last three innings. A strong defense helped Walker stay poised as well, Oquendo making excellent catches on liners hit by Deshaun White and Zane Rogers.

Shade picked up where Walker left off, working a perfect sixth inning and closing the game with his fourth strikeout while earning the save.

“I trust in my teammates. As long as I get it in a good spot, they’ll make the play,” Walker said. “It’s amazing having a good catcher back there. It helps you control the defense and stay in a calm state of mind.”

Nathan Crowe of Williamsport is safe at third base as Kyle Everett of Central Mountain drops the ball on a play from the 5th inning in Williamsport. Central Mountain won, 3-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“Blake is a bulldog. He wants the ball; he wants to compete,” Kramer said. “He lives for that moment. It’s great to watch it.”

Central Mountain witnessed it in the seventh inning, but this time Walker did it with his bat. A .463 hitter last season, Walker smoked a one-out RBI single toward the left-field line, bringing home Oquendo after he ignited the rally with a single. Shade walked a batter later and scored when Walker’s single was mishandled.

Walker drove in 23 runs a year ago and it was his mind as much as his swing which helped him deliver a crucial insurance run against Williamsport. Although he was held hitless in three previous at-bats, Walker learned from each one and put all the knowledge to good use at the perfect time.

“We faced two pitchers we also faced last year and it’s nice seeing more pitches and seeing what they had going for them,” Walker said. “You start to learn and can use that information.”

Central Mountain learned a lot after opening its season with an 11-5 loss against defending District 2 AAAAA champion Pittston. The Wildcats walked and hit 11 batters in that game, so many wounds were self-inflicted.

Deshaun White of Williamsport celebrates after hitting a double in the first inning against Central Mountain in Williamsport. Central Mountain won, 3-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

It was a 180-degree turn against Williamsport, Walker and Shade combining for 10 strikeouts and one walk with no hit batters. Just when HAC-I opponents might have sensed blood in the water after Central Mountain went undefeated in league play last year, the defending champions offered a glimpse of who they are and where they could go with more experience.

“We needed to get something going,” Walker said. “With a bunch of new players who weren’t with us last year because we had a lot of seniors, just having that confidence boost will be big for us.”

“We have some guys step in today that gained some confidence,” Kramer said. “I’m excited to see where we go from here.”

And while Williamsport endured its first loss, its confidence is far from shaken. Cole Deitrick and Trey Damschroder pitched outstanding and White scorched the ball with two strikes with two runners on in the fifth, while Rogers did the same opening the sixth.

Oquendo delivered both times, making running catches and robbing Rogers by sliding and preventing the tying runner from reaching to start the sixth.

Lucas Naughton of Williamsport tags out Yafran Sanchez of Central Mountain in a run down play to end the top of the 5th inning in Williamsport. Central Mountain won, 3-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“We came up short in the game but throughout the course of the game they did the right things,” Williamsport coach Tyler Albert said. “Deshaun with his two-strike approach stings a ball that hangs up a little bit and the center fielder makes a nice plays The next inning I say, ‘Here’s what’s going to happen: Zane is going to hit a double, Cole’s going to hit another triple and we’re going to have a tie game and, sure enough, Zane stung the ball and the kid made a play. That’s how it goes sometimes.”

Deitrick threw five strong innings, scattering four hits and striking out six. Damschroder struck out four in his two innings and both were tough in tense situations. After Jones doubled off the center field fence and gave Central Mountain a 1-0 lead, the Wildcats had runners on second and third with one out.

Deitrick responded by getting his fourth strikeout and inducing a grounder. Two innings later, Damschroder faced a bases-loaded, one-out jam and came up clutch, producing consecutive strikeouts. The lefty also induced seven swings and misses that inning.

“Those guys have good heads on their shoulders. I told our guys many times the difference between a good pitcher and a great pitcher is how he between the ears?” Albert said. “They do such a good job not showing emotion, not letting little things get to them. They have that next pitch mindset. Being able to rely on two guys like that throwing the ball makes us very fortunate.”

Williamsport did not go quietly in the seventh. Shade retired the first five batters he faced, but freshman James Naughton kept the game going, hitting a two-out single. The top of the order was a batter away, but Shade again delivered, blowing a fastball by on a full count and clinching the win.

Deshaun White of Williamsport tries to make the tag as Felix Oquendo of Central Mountain slides safely into second base on a stolen base in the top of the 6th inning in Williamsport. Central Mountain won, 3-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Central Mountain earned the win, but Albert likes what he saw from his team which has been hit by the injury bug quite often early this season. Both squads take positives going forward and will face each other again later this month at Mill Hall.

“It was a good experience for the team as a whole and everybody is behind each other,” Albert said. “They are very supportive of everyone. They want each other to succeed which is huge.”

Central Mountain 3, Williamsport 0

C Mountain 000 100 2–3 7 1

Williamsport 000 000 0–0 6 2

Blake Walker, Darius Shade (6) and Watt Probst. Cole Deitrick, Trey Damschroder (6) and Lucas Naughton. W–Walker. L–Deitrick. SV–Shade.

Top Central Mountain hitters: Aiden Jones 2-4, 2B, RBI; Yayfran Sanchez 2-3, 2B; Walker 1-4, RBI; Shade 1-3, R; Felix Oquendo 1-4, R. Top Williamsport hitters: Naughton 2-3; Deshaun White 1-3, 2B; Deitrick 1-3; Damschroder 1-3; James Naughton 1-3.

Records: Central Mountain 1-0, 1-1 HAC-I. Williamsport 2-1, 2-1.