Tyrone Golden Eagle baseball team defended their 2021 Curve Classic title last weekend at PNG Field, home of the Altoona Curve, the double-affiliate of the Pittsburg Pirates. While a repeat was not in the cards this year, the Golden Eagles defeated Hollidaysburg and Altoona and gave Central a good run on their way to a second-place finish.

Tyrone took on Hollidaysburg in the first round, beating them with a walk-off hit in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The was very close with Hollidaysburg leading for most of the game, but in the bottom of the seventh inning with the bases loaded, junior Ross Gampe delivered a rocket into right-center field to end the game in a walk-off.

In the second round, the Eagles took on Altoona in another nail-biter. The Tyrone offense took off in the first inning delivering 4 runs. After this, the Eagle’s offense went cold and was only able to produce just 1 more run in the next 8 innings of play. The Mountain Lions were able to manufacture enough runs to at least tie the game and take it into extra innings where the two teams battled into 10 innings. In the bottom of the tenth inning with a runner at third, designated hitter Jesse Yingling came up to the plate to drive in the winning run. This would advance the Eagles into the finals having to go up against the undefeated Central Dragons.

In the championship game, the Eagles battled the top team in the area, the Central Dragons, and while the Eagles were unable to come up with the win, they played Central closer than any other opponent has this season.

The Dragons got off to a good start in the first and second inning, putting up 4 runs while holding Tyrone scoreless. In the top of the fifth inning when AJ Coleman had a spectacular 12-pitch at-bat, which resulted in a base hit over the third baseman’s head, which led to another hit and a walk to load the bases.

The hot bat of Luke Brooks then delivered a base clearing triple, making the score 4-3 Central.

But immediately after the Eagles breakout inning, the Dragons then had a bigger inning of their own, putting up 7 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, making the score 11-3 Dragons.

The Eagles were able to produce a few more runs late but were not enough to win the game, resulting in a 12-6 loss in the championship game.

Championship Game: Central 12, Tyrone 6

Tyrone (6): Walk ss 411, Lang lf 312, Gampe p 1b 300, Brooks 2b 211, Legars cf 300, Lehner 3b 202, Hamer c 300, AJ Coleman rf 311, Yingling dh 201. Totals — 25-6-8. Central (12): Kling cf p 421, Hoenstine ss 310, Boyles 1b 312, Smith c 331, Snowberger dh p 311, Helsel p rf 311, Gregg lf 412, Metzger 2b 311, Snowberger 3b 212. Totals — 28-12-11.

SCORE BY INNINGS

Tyrone 000 031 2 – 6 8 3

Central 310 071 x – 12 11 0

E–Hamer 1, Legars 1, Lehner 1. WP–Helsel . LP– Rhoades. SO– Rhoades 2, Postreich 0, Helsel 4, Snowberger 3, Kling 1. BB–Rhoades 3 Postreich 0, Helsel 4, Snowberger 2, Kling 2. Records: Tyrone (7-5); Central (13-0).

Semifinals: Tyrone 6, Altoona 5, 10 innings

Tyrone (6): Walk ss 410, Lang lf p 222, Gampe 1b 411, Brooks p rf 400, Legars cf 511, Lehner 3b 401, Hamer c 400, Rhoades 2b 500, Light dh 200, Yingling dh 201. Totals — 36-6-6. ALTOONA (5): Moyer 3b 611, Steinbugl ss-p 401, Muffie cf p 421, Rhodes p cf 512, Hileman lf 501, Riccio dh 503, Bettwy c 401, Blough rf ss 501, Friewald 2b 311. Totals — 41-5-12.

SCORE BY INNINGS

Tyrone 401 000 000 1 – 6 6 2

Altoona 002 200 100 0 – 5 12 3

E–Rhoades 2, Steinbugl 1, Rhodes 1, Moyer 1. WP–Lang . LP– Muffie. SO– Brooks 1, Lang 2, Rhodes 5, Steinbugl 0 Muffie 2. BB–Brooks 1, Lang 2, Rhodes 5, Steinbugl 0, Muffie 3.

First Round: Tyrone 5, Hollidaysburg 4

Tyrone (5): Walk 2b 412, Lang lf p 201, Gampe p 1b 401, Brooks 2b rf 310, Legars cf 211, Lehner 3b 201, Hamer c 301, Rhoades 1b 2b 311, Light 210. Totals — 25-5-8. Hollidaysburg (1): Kensinger 1b cf 311, Smith ss 201, Kratzer 3b p 200, Perry p 1b 401 Snell c 400, Hileman cf 311, Michaels rf 422, Hockey 2b 400, Banks 3b ss 302, Anderson dh 300. Totals — 32-4-8.

SCORE BY INNINGS

Tyrone 021 000 2 – 5 8 3

Hollidaysburg 110 101 0 – 4 8 2

E–Smith 1, Kratzer 1, Walk 2, Lehner 1. WP–Lang . LP– Perry. SO– Gampe 4, Lang 0, Perry 5, Kratzer 0. BB–Gampe 0 Lang 2 Perry 3 Kratzer 1.