Mtn. Lions outlast all others for title
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The 2023 Curve Classic championship game between Altoona and Forest Hills tested both teams' pitching depth. Altoona had a little more.
Altoona brought up Gavin Albright from the junior varsity squad, and the sophomore right-hander gave the Mountain Lions a big lift. Albright started and gave up just one run in four innings to help Altoona win 11-3 and claim the trophy for the first time since 2016 on a wet Saturday morning at PNG Field.
"Both teams were limited pitching-wise at this point," Altoona coach Tom "Turtle" Smith said. "Our goal for him was to give us three good innings then go from there with a bunch of other guys. He gave us four really good innings, and that team can really swing the bats."
Albright didn't get word he was pitching until Friday night. If he had any nerves, it didn't show. He started the game by retiring the first five batters.
"It was a total surprise. I was a little nervous when I first found out, but once I got here, I settled down a little bit. After that first inning, I was calm," Albright said. "It helps when the offense comes through with a bunch of runs.
Forest Hills started a junior varsity pitcher as well. He failed to make out of the first inning as Altoona combined three hits with three hit batters to grab an early 4-0 lead.
"This was our fifth game this week. Pitching we were into our six, seven, eight, nine guys," Forest Hills coach Joe Carpenter said. "It's a great tournament to be in, but it's difficult when you have to play three games in two days to win the championship. And you have to play a 6A school. We played a good tournament. Going 8-1 is a good start to the season."
Evan Alwine provided the big blow in the first with a two-run single that brought around Michael Riccio and Bryce Eberhart.
Alwine, who's signed to play baseball at Florida International, went 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs.
"I was struggling at the beginning of the season, but I started seeing the ball better and getting some confidence once I put the ball in play," he said. "Starting off 1-4, we joke around that it's a carbon copy of last year, but we didn't win the Curve Classic. It's great to come out and win one for Altoona."
The Mountain Lions extended the lead with single runs in the second and third before blowing it open with four more in the fourth.
Connor Lindsey walked and Riccio reached on an error to start the inning. After Lindsey scored on a fielder's choice, Alwine singled to right, chasing home pinch runner Wyatt Young.
Sam Saylor and Alwine then scored on Tanner Stroup's double for a 10-1 lead.
Connor Blough was named tournament MVP. In three games, he went a combined 6-for-10 with four runs and four RBIs.
"It's awesome obviously. It's a big tournament with a lot of good teams in it," Blough said when asked about being MVP. "As a senior it was important to us to win this, show the younger kids that they can do it, and it can be won every year."
FOREST HILLS (3): Brody Roberts 2b 410, Rearick ss 400, B. Williamson c 211, Richardson cr-3B 100, Kreger 1b 401, Orris ss 301, Ruddek ph 000, C. Williamson lf 410, Cornell 3b-p 200, Fisher p 000, Christ p 000, Bryce Roberts dh-c 201, Maul rf 200. Totals -- 28 3 4.
ALTOONA (11): Weyandt ss-2b 110, Bettwy c 412, Yost cr 000, Blough 2b-3b-rf 311, Lindsey rf-p 210, Duffy ph 000, Albright p 000, Riccio dh 412, Young pr 010, Eberhart lf 310, Saylor 1b 310, Alwine 3b-p 423, Stroup cf 412. Totals -- 28 11 10.
SCORE BY INNINGS
Forest Hills 010 020 2 -- 3 4 3
Altoona 411 301 X -- 11 10 2
E--Cornell, Kreger, Fisher, Freiwald, Eberhart. 2B--Stroup. 3B--B. Williamson. RBI--Bryce Roberts, B. Williamson, Kreger, Bettwy, Blough, Riccio 2, Saylor 2, Alwine 3, Stroup 2. WP--Albright. LP--Fisher. SO--Cornell 3, Albright 3, Lindsey 2. BB--Christ 3, Cornell 4, Albright 4, Lindsey 3.
Records: Forest Hills (8-1); Altoona (5-4).