Mother Nature played games (no pun intended) with the spring sports schedule last week as there were numerous postponements for the various Central Mountain teams. Thus, the schedule ended up being relatively light for this time of the season. Let’s recap what did occur.

The tennis team was scheduled for just one match, but weather caused that to be pushed to this week.

The track and field athletes had an active week. First, the teams took on Williamsport in a home meet. Unfortunately, Williamsport proved to be too much for both the boy’s and girl’s teams, as the boys fell by a score of 113-37 while the girls lost 117-33.

Despite the lopsided defeats, several CM athletes had solid outings.

Top finishes among the ladies for CM were Grace Keohane (1st/400M Dash), Abigail Winslow (2nd/400M Dash), Lucy Walker(2nd/1600M Run), Marcia Owens (1st/100M Hurdles and 2nd/300M Hurdles), Sarah Hall(2nd/100M Hurdles), Harper Conklin (2nd/Pole Vault), and Zaylie Warren (2nd/Triple Jump).

On the boy’s side, CM got quality finishes from Will Stout (1st/3200M Run), Holden Long(2nd/3200M Run), Josiah Allert (1st/Shot Put, 2nd/High Jump and 3rd/Discuss), Dylan Bechdel(1st/Long Jump) and in the Javelin, Maxwell Finle and Ethan Shetler went 1 and 2.

On Friday, numerous Wildcats and Lady Wildcats participated in the Altoona Mountain Lion Track and Field Classic featuring 17 large schools from Central and Northwestern PA. The Competition was brutal, but CM was able to turn in a few solid performances.

Top 10 finishes were recorded by Owens (4th/100M Hurdles and 9th/300M Hurdles), Lane Walker (10th/Javelin), Damien Winner (8th/3200M Run) and Wyatt Heeman (8th/400M Run).

The softball team was scheduled for three games, but the weather restricted them to just one, an 8-7 loss at Danville.

The Wildcats and Ironmen of Danville have now traded walk-off wins this season. A couple of weeks ago, the Lady Cats captured a thrilling walk-off on their home field as Camdyn Weaver belted a homer to give her team a thrillingextra inning victory.

On Tuesday, Danville reversed the outcome. This time, it was the Ironmen who scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to steal an improbable win over CM, who had taken a 7-2 lead in the game.

Weaver was in the circle for CM and struck out 10 batters while walking just one. However, a typically solid CM defense let her down in the final inning. Leading the CM offense was Weaver and Aubrey Miller, who each had a single and double, along with Aubrey Eiler, who rapped out three singles.

Scheduled games at Selinsgrove on Thursday and Punxsutawney on Friday were postponed. The team was en route on Friday when the game was called.

Senior standout Blake Walker hurled a complete-game four-hitter and held a very solid Dubois team to just one run, as the Wildcat baseball team downed the visiting Beavers by a 3-1 score in Mill Hall on Monday.

Walker held the Beaver hitters in check until the sixth inning when they registered four hits in the final two innings. CM rapped out eight hits in the contest with Aiden Jones and Yayfran Sanchez collecting two each.

Unfortunately, the Cats were unable to keep the momentum going the remainder of the week.

After being rained out on Thursday, they hit the road to Mifflinburg on Friday. The offense was flat-out stymied, generating just two hits, and the Wildcats lost to a solid Mifflinburg squad by a 6-1 score, dropping their season record to 9-3.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

Hey, until Friday, it was going to be the baseball team but sometimes you’ve got to call it as it is. None of the CM teams went unscathed this week so let’s wait until next week to recognize a team in this section.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Almost a weekly candidate for the honor, Blake Walker earns it this week on the strength of his complete game gem over the Beavers. Head baseball coach Mike Kramer said of his standout senior:

“He is an impact player who is a tremendous leader,” said Kramer. “He is unselfish and is always looking out for the betterment of the team.”

Let’s throw an honorable mention out too for Josiah Allert, who had a very solid meet against Williamsport.

FORMER CM ATHLETES ON CAMPUS

Braylen Corter is a junior utility player on the PennState Dubois baseball team. For the season, across 29 games, he’s carrying a .370 batting average with 13 walks and 20 RBIs while also scoring 20 runs.

Senior Aaron Miller is listed as an outfielder on the PSU-Dubois squad. For the season, he is batting .279 while scoring 15 runs across 22 games.

LOOKING AHEAD

We should all hope for good weather this week, but a quick look at the forecast indicates that the weather man might not be so sure we will get what desire. Thus, it could be another dance through the raindrops to attempt to complete the scheduled events this week.

That being the case, there is nonetheless much on the docket.

Today, the track and field teams will hold Senior Day recognition prior to a meet against South Williamsport before heading to Bloomsburg on Saturday for the PHAC Championships.

The baseball team hosts Jersey Shore today before welcoming Shamokin on Wednesday. For softball, it’s two away contests, Tuesday at Dubois and Thursday at Mifflin County. The tennis team is at Montoursville today for a make-up match.

A solid week in in order as the teams look to build momentum heading into the post season. Keep your umbrella handy and stay alert for any schedule adjustments. Go Wildcats.