Curwensville head coach Denny Johns spoke afterwards about the season, “It was definitely a very tough year. We didn’t come anywhere close to what we expected at the beginning of this year. But our guys never quit on us. We only wish we had more wins for the amount of work we put in.”
The Tide actually took a 1-0 lead over the Chucks in the bottom of the second inning when Boone McGary drew a walk and moved to second on a ground out. Tanner Elensky drove McGary home with a two out single to left center field giving Curwensville the early advantage.
Punxsutawney would then score in each of the five remaining innings with two in the third and three more in the fourth to take a 5-1 lead that it never relinquished.
A run for the Tide in the bottom of the fourth would be as close as they would come the rest of the afternoon.
McGary doubled and moved to third on a ground out and later scored on another ground out RBI by catcher Kyle Bloom, making it 5-2 in favor of Punxsutawney.
The margin would increase to 11-2 for Punxsutawney as it scored one in the fifth, two in the sixth and a three spot in the top half of the seventh inning.
Tyler Skerkazich had a home run for the Chucks with one on board in the top of the sixth inning.
The Golden Tide would pick up a three spot of their own in the bottom of the seventh as Chuck pitcher Kory Geer walked the first three Tide batters. Shelby McGarry, Brett Gardner and Shae Best gave the Tide a bases loaded no out situation.
Curwensville senior shortstop Shane Hoover drove in McGarry on a fielders choice to shortstop which left runners on first and third.
Hoover stole second base as Tide starting pitcher Garrett LaBorde was at the plate with two outs.
On a third strike to LaBorde the ball got behind Punxsutawney catcher Jordan Mesoracko who then threw the ball to first in an attempt to record the out. His throw, however, sailed into right field and Gardner and Hoover raced home with the game’s final runs.
Curwensville’s Boone McGary picked up a double and scored twice to highlight the Tide offense.
Skerkazich drove in five runs, and along with the home run he also stroked a triple and a single.
Joe Pisano smacked three singles for Punxsutawney while Zak Dickey, Jordan Mesoraco and Brodi Lowmaster each recorded two hits.
Johns spoke about his seniors who suited up for the last time, “We will certainly miss the seniors. They gave us a lot of effort this season and the coaches and I wish them well in the future.”
The Tide seniors are: Bob Adams, Shae Best, Shane Hoover, Garrett LaBorde, Shelby McGarry and Alec Starr.
About next year, Johns was upbeat as he said, “We are looking forward hopefully to bounce back next year. We had some young guys that gained valuable experience which should pay dividends for the future of our program.”
The Golden Tide finished the 2010-11 campaign with an overall record of 5-11.
PUNXSUTAWNEY – 11
Zak Dickey ss 4021, Tyler Zimmerman 2b 3211, Jordan Mesoraco c 5222, Tyler Skerkazich 1b 5235, Dane Baker p 0000, Kory Geer p 0000, Joe Pisano dh 4131, Brodi Lowmaster rf 4020, Taylor Neal 3b 5111, Luke Janocha lf 2100, Devon Neal cf 2200, TOTALS – 34 11 14 11.
CURWENSVILLE – 5
Bob Adams rf 1000, Jordan Russell rf 1000, Brett Gardner 2b 0100, Shae Best cf/c 3000, Shane Hoover ss 4101, Boone McGary 1b 2210, Ricky Magnuson 1b 1000, Garrett Laborde p 4010, Kyle Bloom c 2001, Jesse Zorger c/cf 2010, Tanner Elensky 3b 3011, Hunter McCracken 2b 3010, Kyle Johns rf 0000, Shelby McGarry lf 1100, TOTALS – 27 5 5 3.
SCORE BY INNINGS R H E
PUNXSUTAWNEY 002 312 3 11 14 2
CURWENSVILLE 010 100 3 5 5 5
ERRORS – Dickey, Mesoracko, K. Bloom 2, McCracken 2, Hoover. LOB – PUNXSUTAWNEY – 12, CURWENSVILLE – 7. 2B – McGary, Dickey, T. Neal. 3B – Skerkazich. HR – Skerkazich (6th, 1 on). SB – Zimmerman 2, Hoover. HBP – D. Neal and Lowmaster (by LaBorde).
PITCHING
PUNXSUTAWNEY
Baker 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Geer 3 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
CURWENSVILLE
LaBorde 7 IP, 14 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 7 BB, 4 K, 2 HB
WP – Baker LP – LaBorde (2-3)
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 3/28 | @ DuBois Central Catholic | ppd. | 0 – 0 |
| 3/29 | DUBOIS CENTRAL CATH. | 5 – 0 | 1 – 0 |
| 3/31 | @ Brockway | ppd. | 1 – 0 |
| 4/04 | @ Harmony | ppd. | 1 – 0 |
| 4/06 | @ Ridgway | ppd. | 1 – 0 |
| 4/07 | MO VALLEY | ppd. | 1 – 0 |
| 4/11 | @ Cameron County | ppd. | 1 – 0 |
| 4/12 | KANE | ppd. | 1 – 0 |
| 4/13 | MO VALLEY | ppd. | 1 – 0 |
| 4/14 | @ Johnsonburg | 0 – 1 | 1 – 1 |
| 4/18 | @ Elk County Catholic | 5 – 15 | 1 – 2 |
| 4/20 | @ DuBois Central Catholic | ppd. | 1 – 2 |
| 4/21 | HARMONY | 12 – 3 | 2 – 2 |
| 4/25 | @ Brockway | ppd. | 2 – 2 |
| 4/27 | BROCKWAY | ppd. | 2 – 2 |
| 4/29 | WEST BRANCH | ppd. | 2 – 2 |
| 4/30 | WEST BRANCH | 0 – 8 | 2 – 3 |
| 5/02 | @ Glendale | ppd. | 2 – 3 |
| 5/04 | KANE | ppd. | 2 – 3 |
| 5/05 | RIDGWAY | 9 – 2 | 3 – 3 |
| 5/06 | MO VALLEY | 0 – 11 | 3 – 4 |
| 5/07 | @ DuBois Central Catholic | 11 – 8 | 4 – 4 |
| 5/09 | @ Kane | 7 – 8 | 4 – 5 |
| 5/09 | @ Kane | 1 – 9 | 4 – 6 |
| 5/10 | BROCKWAY – DH | 2 – 16 | 4 – 7 |
| 5/10 | BROCKWAY – DH | 2 – 6 | 4 – 8 |
| 5/11 | JOHNSONBURG | 1 – 14 | 4 – 9 |
| 5/12 | @ Ridgway | 2 – 3 | 4 – 10 |
| 5/16 | @ Mo Valley | 11 – 2 | 5 – 10 |
| 5/18 | ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC | ppd. | 5 – 10 |
| 5/19 | @ Glendale | cancelled | 5 – 10 |
| 5/20 | PUNXSUTAWNEY | 5 – 11 | 5 – 11 |