Curve Classic offers Central many enjoyable moments (2025)

Central’s Troy McNichol scores a run during a win over Central Cambria in the Curve Classic at PNG Field Friday. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Central second baseman Jay Hoenstine prepares to double up Central Cambria’s Grady Snyder after snagging a line drive from Logan Black.Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Going up against not only Central Cambria, the team that beat the Dragons for the District 6 championship last year, but the starting pitcher who threw that game — Owen Harriger — led to a dominant performance for Central in a 13-3 victory.

“Our one assistant coach is a teacher at Central, and he said the kids were really looking forward to this,” Central coach A.J. Hoenstine said. “The kids were watching some video instead of doing their schoolwork more so than usual, especially our seniors. There was definitely some extra motivation, and I’m sure we’ll see them again down the road.”

Central drew 13 walks and rode a huge offensive performance from Troy McNichol, who was 4-for-5 with two doubles and four RBIs.

“I’m just getting my swing back,” McNichol said. “I was dipping my shoulder at the beginning of the season, but now I’m seeing pitches well and putting the barrel on it.”

Central second baseman Jay Hoenstine prepares to double up Central Cambria's Grady Snyder after snagging a line drive from Logan Black.Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

McNichol was a starter on last year’s team that lost to Central Cambria in the championship game.

“We looked forward to this all year to get some redemption on them for the district championship last year,” McNichol said. “It would be huge for us to win this tournament. We fell short to Altoona last year by one run, and we want to take it home this year.”

Central Cambria’s wildness on the mound led to Central’s first run. Jesse Muthler and Mason Byler drew walks before Muthler scored on a wild pitch.

In all, seven Central batters who walked scored.

“Between the 13 walks and the six errors, it’s hard to come back from that,” Central Cambria coach Dan Beyer said. “It’s definitely uncharacteristic of our pitching staff this year and previous years. Sometimes you have to have one of these games to shake you up and realize what we need to do to get back to where we were last year.”

The Red Devils lost for the first time in five games this season. J.D. Brouse and Mason Pittsinger each had two hits, and Jake Kirsch drove in two runs. Central Cambria will play Bishop Guilfoyle in a consolation game on Saturday.

“All you can say is that this is one game of 20,” Beyer said. “It’s our first loss. It wasn’t a pretty one, but sometimes you’d rather lose a game like this and realize that we are a championship-caliber team and forget it.”

While Central plays in the Curve Classic every season, Central Cambria was making a rare appearance, which may have contributed to the struggles finding the strike zone.

“The nerves, the weather,” Beyer said. “But, we have to do better.”

Central, which will play Northern Cambria in the semifinals on Saturday, broke the game open in a six-run fourth inning.

McNichol had the big blow with a two-run double, and Wyatt Dilling and Byler each added RBI singles.

Mason Sparks pitched the first four innings for Central, and Byler finished off the game with two hitless innings.

Harriger lasted only three innings for Central Cambria and threw 71 pitches and walked six batters in that time.

“We strive to do that, especially against good pitching like Harriger,” Hoenstine said. “We saw him last year in the district championship, and the kids — I really think they came ready to play and came with a little fire under their rear end. We ran well on the bases and put pressure on them. They are a good baseball team, and Mason Sparks, throwing for the first time in awhile, threw well. Then, Mason came in and does what he does.”

CENTRAL (13): Black ss 230, Dilling 3b 411, McNichol dh 524, Hoenstine 2b 330, Klotz c 100, Muthler lf 210, Byler 1b 302, Beltz rf 411, Loucks cf 310. Totals — 27-13-8.

CENTRAL CAMBRIA (3): Snyder ss 201, Black 2b 200, Coposky 1b 301, Blasko c 200, Howard rf 210, Brouse lf 312, Kirsch 3b 301, Pittsinger dh 302, McConnell cf 100, Russell ph 100, Barra cf 100. Totals — 23-3-7.

SCORE BY INNINGS

Central013 612 X–13 8 1

Central Cambria000 300 X– 3 7 6

E–Coposky, Harriger, Kirsch, Blasko, Black, Dilling. 2B–McNichol 2, Brouse. RBI–Kirsch 2, Brouse, McNichol 4, Byler 3, Beltz, Dilling, Muthler. WP–Sparks. LP–Harriger. SO–Sparks 3, Byler 2, Harriger 2, Black 1, Kirsch 1. BB–Harriger 6, Sedor 3, Black 1, Kirsch 3, Sparks 2.

Umpires: Jim Negri (HP); Bill Wolf (bases).

Records: Central Cambria (4-1); Central (6-1).

BG beaten

Bishop Guilfoyle Academy jumped out to a 3-0 lead in its first-round Curve Classic game against undefeated Northern Cambria, but the Colts scored 13 unanswered runs, including eight in the third inning, in a 13-3 triumph that upped their record to 9-0 at PNG Field.

Zach Lockard drove in four runs for Northern Cambria and had three hits.

Hamilton Gates tripled for the Marauders, and Rocco Cacciotti drove in two runs.

BISHOP GUILFOYLE (3): Gates cf 412, Dixon 2b 210, Georgiana 3b 200, R. Cacciotti 1b 310, M. Cacciotti p 300, Foor ss 301, Marasco rf 200, Warmath c 201, Gartman lf 200, Chwatek lf 101. Totals — 24-3-5.

NORTHERN CAMBRIA (13): Shan. Gisler lf 412, Shaw. Gisler dh 321, Valeria rf 422, Messina ss 200, Wagner ss 120, Dolney 3b 311, Hoover ph 111, Dumm cf 321, Lockard 303, Pershing 1b 311, Fry 2b 110. Totals — 28-13-12.

SCORE BY INNINGS

Bishop Guilfoyle300 000 X– 3 5 3

Northern Cambria008 014 X–13 12 2

E–M. Cacciotti 2, Warmath, Messina, Pershing. 2B–Dumm. 3B–Gates. RBI–R. Cacciotti 2, Foor, Lockard 4, Dumm 2, Fry 2, Gisler, Valeria, Dolney, Pershing. WP–Czar. LP–M. Cacciotti. SO–Czar 8, Kirsch 2, M. Cacciotti 4, Foor 1. BB–M. Cacciotti 4, Foor 1, Czar 5.

Records: Bishop Guilfoyle (1-5); Northern Cambria (9-0).