CURWENSVILLE — Hopeful to get back on the winning track after losing two of three games one week ago, the Golden Tide of Curwensville returned to the diamond on Monday. The spring temperatures and bright sunlight welcomed Curwensville and the visiting West Branch Warriors, a game that was slated for two weeks ago but was postponed due to temperatures and field conditions.
The Golden Tide broke through with one stellar inning, and just as stellar defense, to lock down their second victory of the season, a 7-2 triumph over the Warriors.
On the mound, Avery Francisco got the opportunity to shine, and pulled through with a five-inning performance that saw him toss seven strikeouts, while only giving up three hits, in his first victory of the season.
While Francisco was dealing on the mound, the Tide offense found momentum in the third inning.
West Branch sent Jimmy Pilosky to the mound as opposition, and things went downhill quick in the bottom half of the third. Curwensville plated five runs from Noah VonGunden, Josh Terry, Francisco, Bryce Timko and Zach McClure and Brock Heitsenrether. All runs, except for one, were unearned in the hit fest.
The Warrior offense had success, earning five hits in the contest. Unfortunately, despite the hits, the offense left eight runners stranded.
Pilosky remained in the game for the remainder of the contest, getting the loss after yielding another pair of runs in the fifth inning to Francisco and Timko. He finished the game by giving up six total hits, striking out five, and walking only one.
West Branch did manage to gain their lone runs against VonGunden, who took over in the sixth inning for Francisco. Kris Kanouff and Ayden Gutierrez both came home on an RBI-double by Pilosky.
There’s no time for the Tide (2-5) to savor the win as they are immediately back in action Tuesday afternoon when they travel to face the Black Knights of Moshannon Valley. First pitch is at 4 p.m.
SCORE BY INNING
West Branch 000 000 2 – 2 5 4
Curwensville 005 020 X – 7 6 1
West Branch – 2
Adam Morlock 3000, Ayden Gutierrez 2110, Jimmy Pilosky 4022, Josh Cantolina 3000, Dan Ryder 2000, Luke Guenot 3000, Mason Emigh 3010, Kris Kanouff 3110, Tyler Hoover 3000. TOTALS 26 2 5 2.
Curwensville – 7
Noah VonGunden 3110, Josh Terry 2100, Avery Francisco 3222, Bryce Timko 3211, Zach McClure 3011, Ralph Evans 3001, Austin Butlin 3000, Jeremiah Farley 3010, Broc Heitsenrether 3100. TOTALS 26 7 6 5.
E: Morlock (2), Emigh, Hoover; Francisco. LOB: WB-8, CV-2. 2B-Pilosky, Kanouff. SB: Gutierrez, Pilosky (2); McClure, Francisco (2), Timko. CS: Morlock; Farley.
PITCHING
WB: Pilosky-6 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 1 ER, 5 K, 1 BB.
CV: Francisco-5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 7 K, 4 BB; VonGunden-2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 K, 1 BB.
WP-Francisco (1-2) LP-Pilosky (1-4)
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 | 7 – 2 | 2 – 5 |
| 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 |
