JOHNSONBURG — Just over a week ago the Golden Tide of Curwensville saw their first contest against the Johnsonburg Rams have a rough go at the Curwensville High School. A four-run fifth inning that saw three pitchers and 10 different batters ultimately finished in an 8-5 loss.
Thursday, the Tide looked to even the score as they made the trip to Johnsonburg for the rematch.
It wasn’t a four-run fifth inning that was the deciding factor. Instead, it was a four-run sixth inning that doomed the visitors. Despite matching the Rams in hits, the Tide fell to their AML opponent, 8-3.
Noah VonGunden got the nod to start once again for Curwensville, and started strong for Curwensville. Through five innings he gave up only four runs.
His sixth inning, however, ended with two outs. Austin Green started off the scoring with an RBI-single to bring in Tyler Singer. Green then came in on a single by Neil MacDonald, his second RBI hit of the game, plus an error from Avery Francisco. Ben Ames then nailed a double to plate MacDonald.
VonGunden took the loss, despite a strong 5.2 innings of play, giving up eight hits and five earned runs. It was his third loss of the season, his second as the starting pitcher.
On the opposite side, while Ames had the finishing hit of the game to put Curwensville in a tough position, he was dealing at the plate. Ames stayed on the mound for the entire seven innings. Despite giving up 10 hits, his three runs, two of them being earned, was more than enough to earn his first win of the season.
Francisco was one of three Tide batters to grab multiple hits in the game, and the lone one to bring in a pair of RBI hits. Zach McClure and Christian Bakaysa both added in a pair of hits.
Curwensville (1-5) gets back on their home diamond on Monday when they host the West Branch Warriors, a game that was slated for last Friday but was postponed due to weather. First pitch is set for 4:15 p.m.
SCORE BY INNING
Curwensville 000 001 2 – 3 10 3
Johnsonburg 000 134 X – 8 10 1
Curwensville – 3
Noah VonGunden 4000, Josh Terry 3110, Avery Francisco 4032, Zach McClure 4021, Bryce Timko 3000, Ralph Evans 3010, Austin Butlin 2010, Jeremiah Farley 2000, Matt Carter 1100, Christian Bakaysa 3120. TOTALS 29 3 10 3.
Johnsonburg – 8
Johnny Mitchell 4120, Neil MacDonald 4222, Ben Ames 3111, Justin Kasmierski 4111, Josh Raubenstrauch 4110, Turner Amacher 3000, Ben Freeburg 3111, Tyler Singer 3010, Daunte Allegretto 2000, Austin Green 1111. TOTALS 31 8 10 6.
E: Francisco (3); Ames. LOB: CV-7/JB-6. 2B-Francisco (2); Ames, Freeburg. SB-Raubenstrauch, MacDonald. CS-Francisco, Bakaysa.
Pitching
Curwensville: VonGunden – 5.2 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 3 K, 1 BB; Francisco-0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 K, 0 BB.
Johnsonburg: Ames – 7 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 K, 2 BB.
WP-Ames. LP-VonGunden (0-3)
Golden Tide Scoreboard:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 3/24 | PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA | 2 – 8 | 0 – 1 |
| 3/27 | @ Brockway | ppd. | 0 – 1 |
| 3/30 | @ Punxsutawney | ppd. | 0 – 1 |
| 4/03 | ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC | 2 – 6 | 0 – 2 |
| 4/05 | JOHNSONBURG | 5 – 8 | 0 – 3 |
| 4/07 | WEST BRANCH | ppd. | 0 – 3 |
| 4/10 | @ Brockway | 8 – 7 | 1 – 3 |
| 4/11 | @ Clearfield | 2 – 10 | 1 – 4 |
| 4/13 | @ Johnsonburg | 3 – 8 | 1 – 5 |
| 4/17 | WEST BRANCH | ||
| 4/18 | @ Mo Valley | ||
| 4/21 | @ DuBois Central Catholic | ||
| 4/24 | KANE | ||
| 4/25 | BROCKWAY | ||
| 4/27 | HARMONY | ||
| 5/02 | @ Elk County Catholic | ||
| 5/04 | @ Brookville | ||
| 5/05 | GLENDALE | ||
| 5/09 | CLEARFIELD | ||
| 5/11 | @ Kane | ||
| 5/15 | PUNXSUTAWNEY | ||
| 5/17 | DUBOIS CENTRAL CATH |