Mountain Lions repeat as Classic champs

Photos for the Mirror by Chuck Meyers
Altoona players celebrate while hoisting the championship trophy in the Altoona Curve Classic on Saturday at PNG Field.

By Jon Fleck

For the Mirror

Altoona had gone a number of years without winning the Curve Classic until last season when a senior-laden squad broke that drought.

The Mountain Lions hoisted the trophy once again this year albeit with a whole new cast of characters.

Altoona, which returned just one starter from last year, jumped out to a 6-1 lead on Central in Saturday’s championship game then had its mettle tested when the Scarlet Dragons rallied with five runs in the fifth to tie it.

The Mountain Lions quickly reclaimed the lead in the bottom of inning with a run — when tournament MVP Tanner Stroup singled home Gavin Albright — and held on for a 7-6 win at PNG Field.

“Even though we’re younger this year, these guys don’t seem to be phased by a whole lot,” Altoona coach Turtle Smith said. “We’ve been in a lot of close games already this year, and we’ve won most of them. The fact that these guys are getting battle-tested is really helping.”

Central mounted a serious threat to tie or take the lead in the seventh, loading the bases with one out. Caleb Sanders slammed the door, however, with a strikeout and a groundout to third.

“I just wanted to throw strikes. I knew my defense would make the plays. I just wanted to make sure they didn’t score any more runs,” Sanders said. “I was throwing as hard I could the last few pitches. I really wanted to get that for my team and for us to go back-to-back.”

Catcher Connor Sanders made a nice stop of the third strike to keep the tying run from scoring on a wild pitch. Aaron Smearman scooped up the grounder to third and raced to the bag to seal the victory.

“They got that five-spot, which was tough for us, but we countered in the bottom of the inning. Even though it was just one run, we answered,” Smith said.

Stroup went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. For the tournament, he was 5-for-9 with two doubles, five RBIs and a run scored. He also got the win Friday over Hollidaysburg, giving up just two runs and striking out four in 3• innings pitched.

“It means everything to me and my teammates. We’ve been grinding all year and preparing for this moment ever since we won it last year,” Stroup said. “The seniors did a great job last year. I couldn’t thank them more, but I knew we had a bunch of younger players behind them that could step up and win it again.”

Altoona grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first, and with one run already home in the second, Stroup’s double scored Will Sankey and Dante LaRocco for a 4-0 lead.

Central got on the board with a single run in the third before Altoona tacked on two more in the fourth.

After Eric McAllister singled in LaRocco, Brennen Freiwald scored on an Aaron Smearman single, one of four hits on the day for him.

The game completely changed in the fifth when Central strung some hits together and stormed back to tie it.

Mason Byler’s RBI-double got the Dragons started. After a pair of sac flies plated two more, Tory McNichol doubled to chase home another run before scoring on a error to draw Central even.

“We hit the ball hard all day. We hit some balls right at ’em, and they made some nice plays on others . I’m proud of how the team competed. We’re never happy with a loss, but it was a good ballgame,” Central coach A.J. Hoenstine said.

“We’re always happy to be a part of this. The Curve is a class act. They let our boosters set up some raffles for one of our player’s mother, who’s battling breast cancer. It’s pretty special of them to let us do that.”

CENTRAL (6): Smith 1b 301, Snowberger ss 411, Marko c 201, McNichol rf 412, Dionis dh 401, Loucks cf 000, Hoenstine 2b-lf 300, Dilling p-2b 120, Black 3b-p 211, Byler lf-3b 211. Totals — 25-6-8.

ALTOONA (7): LaRocco cf 131, Freiwald 2b 110, Stroup rf 302, McAllister dh 401, Co. Sanders c 000, Ca. Sanders 3b-p 400, Smearman p-3b 414, Sankey lf 311, Speece 1b 300, Kraft ph 100, Albright ss 210. Totals — 26-7-9.

SCORE BY INNINGS

Central 001 050 0 — 6 8 0

Altoona 130 210 X — 7 9 1

E–Albright. 2B–McNichol 2, Dionis, Byler, LaRocco, Stroup. RBI–Smith, Marko, McNichol, Byler, Freiwald 2, Stroup 3, McAllister, Smearman.

PITCHING

Central: Dilling 4.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 6 BB, 3 SO, 7 LOB. Black (L) 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 LOB.

Altoona: Smearman 4.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO, 2 LOB. Ca. Sanders (W) 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1 HBP, 3 LOB.

Records: Central (9-2); Altoona (6-2).