Three days removed from a tough loss at Bethel Park, Central Mountain baseball faced similar early struggles against a strong Hazleton squad. The Cougars entered with a 16-2 record and showed why by getting out to a 4-0 lead after three.

However, this time, the Wildcats had an answer. Two fourth-inning runs help them narrow the gap, and a four-run fourth propelled them to victory, as they rallied back to defeat Hazleton, in its home finale on Monday.

From the mound, Austin Andrus helped steady the ship in relief, pitching two scoreless innings and allowing just two walks and a hit through three innings. Starter Aiden Jones bounced back from a tough third with a scoreless inning of his own, and the pair combined for five strikeouts.

Offensively, Central Mountain’s rally back was led by Blake Walker. The senior went 3-for-3 from the plate and contributed the two-RBI single that granted his team its first lead. Watt Probst also contributed two RBIs and a double, and pinch runner Nolan Karstetter scored twice.

Two sixth-inning runs gave Bellefonte just enough cushion to scrape by Central, as it avoided a seventh-inning 1-1 tie to defeat the Dragons, 3-1, on Monday afternoon at home.

Bellefonte pitchers Carsen Henry and Zach Lehman combined for six straight scoreless innings, with Henry pitching a three-hitter through five and Lehman allowing just one hit and run through two. They combined for seven strikeouts.

Offensively, Evan Mattern and Parker VonGunden each contributed two hits and an RBI each, with Mattern scoring one of Bellefonte’s three runs. Both VonGunden’s hits were doubles.

The Bellefonte softball team bounced back from a tough loss to Westmont Hilltop on Monday, cruising past Central on the road, 9-1, to close out the regular season on a high note.

Four Red Raiders in Sloan Moore, Riley Santostefano, Ella Herr and Rorie Roan attributed two hits, with Herr’s two doubles combining to bat home five runners. And on the mound, Adrienne Masullo pitched a seven-inning gem, scattering six hits while striking out ten.

An eight-run first inning proved detrimental to Bald Eagle softball’s chances of winning on Monday afternoon, as it fell to Huntingdon on the road, 12-2, in six innings. Kendall Gavlock went 3-for-3 from the plate to lead the Eagles while Addisyn Burns and Casey Angellotti each contributed RBIs.

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

Central Mountain 6, Hazleton 5

Hazleton 031 001 0 – 5 4 0

C. Mount. 000 204 X – 6 7 1

Fred Corrado, LD Ventra (3), Nick Cunniffe (5), Brian Sheman (6) and Chris Knelly. Aiden Jones, Austin Andrus (5) and Watt Probst. W – Andrus. L – Cunniffe.

Top Hazleton hitters: LD Ventra 1-3, 2B, 3 RBIs; Dom Marino 1-4, 2B, RBI; Logan Hearity 1-3, 3B; Chris Knelly, Mason Eckert, Anthony Masias run. Top Central Mountain batters: Blake Walker 3-3, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Watt Probst 1-3, 2B, 2 RBis; Luke Nonemaker 1-2, RBI; Hayes Miller 1-1, RBI, run; Nolan Karstetter 2 runs; Felix Oquendo 1-3, run.

Bellefonte 3, Central 1

Central Mar. 000 000 1 – 1 4 0

Bellefonte 001 002 X – 3 5 0

Mason Sparks, Coltin Harbaugh (6) and Cody Clapper. Carsen Henry, Zach Lehman (6) and Ollie Thornburg. W – Henry. L – Harbaugh.

Top Central hitters: Jesse Muthler 1-2, run; Adam Loucks 1-3, 2B, RBI; Bentley Dickson, Troy McNichol 1-3. Top Bellefonte hitters: Parker VonGunden 2-3, 2 2Bs, RBI; Evan Mattern 2-3, RBI, run; Oliver Thornburg 1-3, 2B, RBI; Alten Howell run.

HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL

Bellefonte 9, Central 1

Bellefonte 300 030 3 – 9 9 0

Central Mar. 100 000 0 – 1 6 4

Adrienne Masullo and Ella Herr. Riley Peterson, Kailyn Gahagan (5) and Norah Bechtel. W – Masullo. L – Peterson.

Top Bellefonte hitters: Ella Herr 2-4, 2 2Bs, 5 RBIs, run; Rorie Roan 2-4, 2B, RBI; Riley Santostefano 2-4, run; Sloan Moore 2-5, 2 runs; Peyton Rimmey 1-3, 2B, RBI; Abby Herr, Adrienne Masullo 2 runs. Top Central hitters: Kailyn Gahagan 2-3, 2B, run; Addison Moses 1-4, RBI; McKenna Smith 1-2; Adriana Byler 1-3; Hailey Fries 1-4.

Huntingdon 12, Bald Eagle 2

Bald Eagle 001 100 – 2 9 0

Huntingdon 821 001 – 12 13 0

Harlee Witherite and Lilly Harter. Kendyl Wilson and Izadore Kazmarski. W – Wilson. L – Witherite.

Top Bald Eagle hitters: Kendall Gavlock 3-3, 2B, run; Casey Angellotti 1-3, 2B, RBI; Maelee Yoder 1-2, 2B, run; Addisyn Burns 1-3, RBI; Lilly Harter, Hayley Simpson 1-2. Top Huntingdon hitters: McKaela Brown 3-4, HR, RBI, 2 runs; Alivia Nicklow 2-3, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Raelynn Fisher 2-3, 2B, RBI, 2 runs; Leah Beck 2-3, 2B, RBI, run.