MORRISDALE — After getting the victory on Tuesday, the Curwensville Golden Tide had to adjust the focus to redemption. It was less than a week ago, the West Branch Warriors held the Tide off the scoreboard in DuBois, a devastating loss after the Tide had just won in a big way the day prior. A similar situation was what Curwensville faced when they made the trip to Morrisdale for the second meeting.
That game ended up being a near mirror image. Curwensville faced the same pitcher, and saw the same results, this time falling 10-0 after only five innings.
West Branch got the scoring going in the first inning. Isaac Tiracorda led things off with a line drive double into deep center field. One batter later, Lukas Colton grounded the ball up the left field line for an RBI-single to bring the first run of the game. Ultimately, that single run was the only lead change of the game and would set the course for the rest of the game.
Starting pitcher Luke Liptak was on a tear the entire afternoon, much like he was the first time he faced off with Curwensville. His undefeated season was kept intact thanks to a two-hit performance over five innings, as he struck out eight and did not allow a walk.
Three runs came in the bottom of the third, first on a two-RBI single by Brody Rothrock, bringing both Tiracorda and Colton across the plate. An RBI-single by Nick Parks then broth Rothrock home to increase the lead to 4-0.
Starting pitcher Lawson Neiswender took the loss as the four earned runs in four and one-third innings would be a gap that could not be overcome.
In the fifth, the Warriors would put away the game in a big way. After one out, the Curwensville coaches made the switch to Gavin McDermott at the mound, but he began to struggle right away. With the bases already loaded thanks to Tyler Wilson’s double, Parks getting struck in the back, and a single by Coby Kephart, Gavin Rothrock would get the easy stroll to first base on a walk, making it 5-0. The same could be said by Zach McGonigal, and then a two-RBI single by Tiracorda made it 8-0. Another RBI-single by Colton made it 9-0, and at that point Curwensville Head Coach Derek Dixon made a change yet again, opting for Logan Kunkle to head to the hill.
It only took two batters to finish the game, as a quick ground out by Liptak got the second out of the inning, but advanced runners to second and third. Rothrock then took the swing and blasted the ball into left field, resulting in a score by Tiracorda, and at that point the West Branch coaches halted the other runners, as the tenth run is all they needed. Officials then called the game as the mercy rule was reached.
Curwensville (6-10) has a chance to still finish the regular season at .500 if they win out, and that task begins on Friday when the Tide play host to Purchase Line. First pitch comes at 4:30 p.m.
SCORE BY INNING
Curwensville 000 00 – 0 2 1
West Branch 103 06 – 10 11 2
Curwensville – 0
Grant Swanson-rf 3000, Cael Butler-2b 2010, Andrew Pentz-dh 2000, Logan Kunkle-ss/p 2010, Merek Sutika-cf 1000, Hunter Tkacik-1b 2000, Lawson Neiswender-p 2000, Gavin McDermott-p/ss 0000, Lincoln Hoyt-c 2000, Kyler Nelen-lf 2000. TOTALS 18 0 2 0.
West Branch – 10
Isaac Tiracorda-c 4332, Lukas Colton-ss 3132, Luke Liptak-p 4000, Brody Rothrock-lf 4123, Tyler Wilson-3b 3110, Nick Parks-1b 2111, Coby Kephart-cf 2110, Gavin Rothrock-rf 1101, Zach McGonigal-2b 2101. TOTALS 25 10 11 10.
- 2B: Wilson, Tiracorda, Colton
- 3B: Tiracorda
- HBP: Sutika/Parks, G. Rothrock
- SB: Kephart-2, Colton
- CS: Colton
- E: Butler/Wilson, Liptak
PITCHING
- Curwensville: Neiswender-4.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 6 SO, 2 BB; McDermott-0 IP, 1 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 SO, 2 BB; Kunkle-0.1 IP 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 SO, 0 BB.
- West Branch: Liptak-5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 8 SO, 0 BB.
W-Liptak (7-0)
L-Neiswender (1-2)
GOLDEN TIDE SCOREBOARD:
Date Opponent Score Record
3/18 BROCKWAY ppd. 0 – 0
3/21 @ Juniata Valley ppd. 0 – 0
3/25 MO VALLEY 0 – 10 0 – 1
3/26 @ Juniata Valley 9 – 9, susp. 0 – 1
3/28 @ Claysburg-Kimmel 1 – 5 0 – 2
4/02 BROCKWAY ppd. 0 – 2
4/04 WEST BRANCH ppd. 0 – 2
4/06 @ Union 0 – 13 0 – 3
4/09 @ Wiliamsburg 4 – 1 1 – 3
4/11 @ Brockway 3 – 2, susp. 1 – 3
4/13 @ Harmony ppd. 1 – 3
4/15 @ Brockway 10 – 2 2 – 3
4/15 BROCKWAY 8 – 2 3 – 3
4/16 GLENDALE 7 – 14 3 – 4
4/18 @ Tourney vs. Altoona 0 – 16 3 – 5
4/19 @ Tourney vs. Tyrone 2 – 4 3 – 6
4/23 JUNIATA VALLEY 11 – 9 4 – 6
4/23 JUNIATA VALLEY 2 – 4 4 – 7
4/25 MT. UNION 0 – 18 4 – 8
4/26 HARMONY 13 – 0 5 – 8
4/27 WEST BRANCH 0 – 9 5 – 9
4/30 @ Mo Valley 9 – 2 6 – 9
5/02 @ West Branch 0 – 10 6 – 10
5/03 PURCHASE LINE
5/07 WILLIAMSBURG
5/08 @ Glendale
5/15 @ Harmony