Homer-Center played Comeback Kids again after falling behind to Claysburg-Kimmel 9-3 in the second inning. The Wildcats scored three runs in the bottom of the third to make it 9-6. It stayed that way until the bottom of the seventh inning, when they scored four runs to walk it off (literally), 10-9. In the fateful seventh, the first five Wildcats singled, with Collin Dunn’s base hit driving in two runs to make it 9-8. Then with the bases loaded, Noah Turk walked to score one run, and Drew Fisher then drew another walk, forcing in the game-winner. Dom Shimko came on in relief in the second and threw five-and-two-thirds innings of scoreless relief to get the win.
Nate Birchall and Collin Dunn each had three hits for HC, and Brayden Rado, Braden Dunn, and Noah Turk all had two hits. The Wildcats will host Blacklick Valley on Friday in the Class A semifinals. The Vikings beat Conemaugh Valley 6-2 yesterday.
Class A top seed Northern Cambria squeezed by Bishop Guilfoyle, holding off a seventh inning rally to win it 5-4. Shane Gisler had three hits and Shawn Gisler and Zack Cavallo each had two for the Colts. Caleb Dolney pitched six-and-two-thirds innings, striking out ten Marauders batters, and after surrendering two runs in the seventh, Reese Wagner came on to get the final out after giving up a hit, and earned the save. The Colts move on to the semis, where they will take on Juniata Valley, a 4-1 winner over Williamsburg, on Friday.
In AAA, number one seed Forest Hills eliminated West Shamokin, 10-0.
SOFTBALL
Marion Center fell behind 5-0 after one inning, but still advanced to the AAA semifinals with a 10-6 win over Westmont Hilltop. Winning pitcher Cheyenne Silvis was 3-for-4 at the plate, and Alivia Ruddock and Natalie Black each drove in three runs. Madi Schrecengost had two hits for the Stingers.
Marion Center will travel to Bald Eagle Area on Thursday. The Eagles trimmed Penns Valley 3-2 in eleven innings.
In AA, River Valley fell to West Branch, 8-7, in eight innings despite two home runs and six RBIs from Izabella Speal. Michaela Funyak and Maddie Twinchek each had two hits for the Panthers and each doubled.
In Class A, there were three games involving Heritage Conference teams. Homer-Center got off to a quick start in the first inning with a home run by Bekah Marshall and a run-scoring single by Melanie George, but Claysburg-Kimmel scored all of the runs the rest of the way to win their quarterfinal, 11-2. Taylor Rado had two hits for the Wildcats.
Purchase Line took a 5-0 lead over Bishop McCort after two innings, then cruised home with a 7-4 win. Brooklynn Walker, Kaitlynn Houser, and Rylee Mahaffey all had two hits for the Red Dragons and Walker and Houser both doubled. PL will travel to top seed Claysburg-Kimmel on Thursday.
Conemaugh Valley nipped Penns Manor, 1-0. Neither team submitted stats.
