Tyrone baseball had an uneasy start to the season, going just 2-4 heading into the annual Curve Classic at the Altoona Curve’s PNG Field, but on one of the biggest stages of the local high school baseball season, Tyrone showed that they are a much better team than their early season record suggests.

In the opening game of the tournament, they earned a win in the first round over a solid Bishop Guilfoyle squad, advancing to play Forest Hills, one of the area’s best teams.

The semi-final game against Forest Hills did not disappoint, giving fans a classic pitching duel for the first five innings between Caiden Bonsell of Tyrone and Chase Williamson of Forest Hills.

Bonsell only allowed 2 hits over the first five innings, collecting a dominant shutout start.

Williamson matched Bonsell’s energy, only allowing 3 hits on the day, leaving the game in a scoreless tie into the sixth.

But in the top of the sixth Tyrone broke through with Ashton Walk and Gayge Miller capitalizing on Williamson giving up a hit, and using their speed to wheel around the base paths.

Then jumping on Forest Hills wild pitches, Tyrone’s AJ Coleman crossed the plate for another run, giving the Golden Eagles a 3-0 lead.

Despite having a dominant outing, Bonsell had to be pulled for the bottom of the sixth due to pitch count, and Zac LeGars came in to hold the lead.

But it was not LeGars day as he struggled to keep Forest Hills’ offense at bay, giving up 6 runs while only collecting 2 outs.

Landon Postreich had to come in to finish off the inning, but the damage was already done.

Tyrone couldn’t get anything going in the top of the seventh, sending them home a half-inning short of an upset win.

Opening Round: Tyrone 6, Bishop Guilfoyle 5 

Tyrone had a good win against the 6-1 Bishop Guilfoyle Marauders in the first round with Ross Gampe on the mound.

Gampe pitched a complete game while striking out five, holding the Marauders to only 5 runs, which was just enough for Tyrone’s offense to edge them out.

Tyrone put the ball in play, resulting in six runs on four hits, but causing Bishop Guilfoyle to make errors on hard-hit balls.

Tyrone shows more promise as the season progresses, which is exactly what Coach Soellener and the team have been preaching since the start of the year.

“Our goal is to get better every game and every day,” said Tyrone Head Coach Kevin Soellener.

BOX SCORES

SEMIFINAL

TYRONE (3): Walk ss 411, Coleman rf 311, Gampe 1b 301, Hamer c 300, N. Patterson cr 000, LeGars cf-p-cf 300, Lehner 2b 301, Bonsell p 200, Light lf 100, Oakes dh 00, J. Patterson pr 000, Miller lf-rf 211. Totals — 27-3-5.

FOREST HILLS (6): Bro. Roberts 2b 402, Rearick cf 410, B. Williamson c 311, Kreger 1b 302, Ruddek 1b 010, Orris ss 311, C. Williamson p-lf 300, Cornell 3b 311, Bry. Roberts dh 212, Burda lf 000, Maul rf 301. Totals — 28-6-10.

SCORE BY INNINGS

Tyrone 000 003 0–3 5 1

Forest Hills 000 006 X–6 10 3

E–Walk, C. Williamson, Orris. 2B–Bro. Roberts, Kreger. RBI–Coleman, Gampe, Bro. Roberts, Kreger, Orris, Cornell, Bry. Roberts, Maul. WP–Richardson. LP–LeGars. SO–Bonsell 2, C. Williamson 2, Richardson 1. BB–C. Williamson 1, Bonsell 1.

Records: Tyrone (3-5); Forest Hills (8-0).

OPENING ROUND

BISHOP GUILFOYLE (5): Rother ss 311, Dombrosky 2b-3b-2b-ss 422, Negola cf 311, Sell 1b 400, Beauchamp p 401, Wyandt c 300, Hagg rf 300, Williams 3b-p 301, Gates lf 312. Totals — 30-5-8.

TYRONE (6): Walk 2b 301, Coleman cf 210, Gampe p 300, Hamer c 221, LeGars ss 111, R. McClure 1b 000, Lehner dh 110, Light lf 200, B. McClure 3b 200, Miller rf 311. Totals — 19-6-4.

SCORE BY INNINGS

Bishop Guilfoyle 210 000 2 — 5 8 0

Tyrone 200 400 X — 6 4 1

2B–Rother, Negola, Beauchamp. RBI — Rother, Sell, Negola 2, LeGars, R. McClure, Miller. WP–Gampe. LP–Beauchamp. SO — Gampe 5, Beauchamp 2. BB — Beauchamp 6, Williams 3