BASEBALL
Homer-Center wiped out a 3-0 deficit in the 5th inning, then scored three runs in the top of the 7th inning and stopped a Northern Cambria rally in the bottom of the inning to hand the Colts their first loss of the season, 6-5. Tied at 3-3 heading into the top of the 7th, Nate Birchal had the go-ahead single for the Wildcats. Braden Dunn and Owen Saiani each had two hits for Homer-Center, which had eight hits in the game, all singles. Saiani started and went five and two-thirds innings, striking out 10. Caleb Palmer earned the win with an inning and a third of relief. Brad Valeria and Owen Bougher each had two hits for Northern Cambria.
Braden Reichanbach threw a complete game shutout, striking out six and allowing just four hits and one walk as Marion Center blanked Portage, 8-0. The Stingers racked up 13 hits, with Reichenbach and Trey Slovinsky each collecting three, and Alex Stewart, Noah McCoy, and Nick Pacconi each having two.
United outscored Cambria Heights, 13-8. Isaac Worthington had two hits including a home run. Caden McCully also homered for the Lions and drove in three. Stephen Nelen had three hits for the Highlanders. Ethan Kline and Garrett Jasper each had two hits.
West Shamokin erased a 5-0 deficit and topped Purchase Line, 8-6, scoring a run in the 4th, four runs in the 5th, and three more in the 7th for the win. Ben McConnell had two hits and Grant Johnston hit a triple and drove in three runs. Niko Buffone gave up six runs, but one of them earned as West Shamokin committed nine errors. For Purchase Line, Austin Chambers had three hits including a triple, and Quentin Brooks and Devlan Kordish each had two hits and Luke Mulraney homered.
SOFTBALL
A six-run 6th inning overcame a 4-1 deficit and propelled Knoch to a 7-4 win over Indiana. For the Indians, Tori Manzek and Maggie Cunningham each had two hits and Haley Hamilton drove in two runs. Indiana suffered its second loss against 10 wins and it was the first Section loss.
Cheyenne Silvis struck out six as Marion Center beat Portage, 12-0. Lydia Miller and Mya Lipsie each had three hits for the Stingers, with Miller collecting a double and a triple, and Abigail Smulik and Kaily Anderson each had two.
Homer-Center’s Ava King was 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs, Kylee Krejocic had three hits with a double and two runs driven in, and Bekah Marshall had three hits and drove in two and the Wildcats knocked off Northern Cambria, 14-1. Melanie George, Ashlyn Kerr, and Alaina Fabin also had two hits in a 17-hit attack by the Wildcats. Julia King struck out 10 and walked none, giving up three hits, for the win.
Sidnee Hrubochak had three hits and Kate Hnatko had two as Penns Manor downed River Valley, 9-2. Allison Rhea had a double and drove in three and Kaiden Shields doubled and drove in two. Rhea went seven innings and struck out nine for the win, giving up two runs, one earned. Tori Foust and Sara Bolinger each doubled for the Panthers.
Cambria Heights doubled up United, 12-6. Meghan Wholaver hit a home run and drove in three for the Highlanders. Macey Mezello had two hits including a triple. Abby McConnville had three hits, two of them homers, and drive in all six United runs. Kylie Price and Jaelyn Lichtenfels each had two hits for the Lions. McConville gave up all 12 Cambria Heights runs, but only one of them was earned as the Lions committed five errors. McConville struck out 17.
West Shamokin battered Purchase Line, 12-0. Alexa Plavi, Avery Elkin, Aleya Talmadge, and Lily Jordan all had two hits for the Wolves. Elkin threw all six innings for West Shamokin for the win, striking out seven.
