3^rd row: Coach Hancock, Coach McCollum, Andy Crobak, Kevin Gorman, Kevin Hellam, Josh Koontz, Blair Walborn, Bill Campbell (scorekeeper), Coach McAllister, Coach Shirley (absent: Andrew Pagel)

Dan Amon, Ryan Melick, Kevin Hellam, Kevin Gorman, Johnny Gleason, (absent: Andrew P agel)

Personal Profiles

Andy Pagel

Family: Parents Rich and Pam Pagel and sister Brooke

Future plans: University of Pittsburgh to study Business Finance

Advice to underclassmen: “Don’t tear your ACL five days before try-outs! It makes for a quick season!

Dan Amon

Family: Parents Mindy Fink and William Amon and brother Warren

Future plans: Gettysburg

Advice to underclassmen: “If you work hard enough, you’ll get your shot.”

Ryan Melick

Family: Parents Randy and Cheryl Melick and brother Josh

Future plans: Mt. St. Mary’s or Millersville

Advice to underclassmen: “Work out in the winter so you are prepared for the season!”

Kevin Gorman

Family: Parents Bill and Laura Gorman, brother Patrick, and sisters Katie and Maggie

Future plans: Baseball and Forensic Science at Alvernia

Advice to underclassmen: “Learn to play every position; your team might need it.”

Kevin Hellam

Family: Parents Al and Kathy Hellam, brothers Bryan, David, and Michael and sister Kelly

Future plans: Shippensburg University to play football

Advice to underclassmen: “Cherish the time you have to play sports with your friends. They are your other family and you will miss them.”

Johnny G. Gleason

Family: Parents James and Carmella Gleason, brother Jimmy and sister Carmella

Future plans: Golf Course architecture

Advice to underclassmen: “Ya gotta wanna!” And “Mess up – Make up!”

Spring sports teams stepped outside Monday and saw something they aren't used to this time of year: Grass.

The 15 Sentinel-area high schools commenced spring sports practice Monday and were greeted with cloudy skies and cool temperatures. That's a huge contrast to last year, when Big Spring softball coach Steve Calaman could only stare out the window at the Bulldogs' snow-covered field.

"Last year we didn't have a single practice prior to our first game outside," he said. "Fortunately for us we were able to play most of our games. I know there were some teams that didn't have the luck we did and had to make up a handful of games."

Calaman still chose to hold his first practice indoors, but warned his girls they'd be outside for the rest of the week.

"I've warned them to come ready for cold conditions," Calaman said. "Hopefully they'll follow my hints."

Area baseball, softball and track squads were out in full force Saturday, along with boys' tennis, girls' soccer, boys' volleyball and boys' and girls' lacrosse.

Mechanicsburg's head baseball coach Don Shirley had his team braving the brisk conditions Monday.

"It was cold," he said. "We spent most of the time looking at young guys trying to figure out who we're going to be able to keep."

The Wildcats graduated several players from last year's 17-6 District 3-AAA semifinalist squad, including All-Sentinel shortstop Matt Trusch and star pitcher Bucky Kosyk.

Still, Shirley has middle infielder Jeremy Boone back along with a pair of Kevins — Hellam and Gorman — on the mound. Those players will headline a squad that hopes to win a third-straight Mid-Penn Keystone Division title.

"Last year's seniors were a tough bunch and they helped us win back-to-back championships," Shirley said. "We definitely have high expectations but we have some key spots to fill."

Shirley expects to be on the bench for the duration of the season. The long-time head coach took a sabbatical in mid-April to have the first of two cancer operations, but says he's currently healthy.

Carlisle baseball coach Harry Mundorff said before the season started that this squad was the best he's had in years. They got a chance to prove it Saturday afternoon against a tough Mechanicsburg team that won the Mid-Penn Keystone Division last year.

It was tight early until the Herd exploded for five runs in the top of the sixth inning off relief pitcher Matt Gruber, giving Carlisle a 6-1 victory in the opening game of the season for both teams.

"The coaching staff is pleased with the way we played," Mundorff said. "We were down a run (in the fourth) and we came back. Mechanicsburg has traditionally been a tough team for us to play. When we play at their place, it always seems like one inning goes against us."

This time out it was the other way around. After Wildcats starter Kevin Gorman walked Scott Darhower to lead off the sixth inning, head coach Don Shirley brought Gruber in as relief. Herd third baseman Wade Schlusser advanced Darhower with a fielder's choice, then Dan Mellinger ripped a Gruber fastball that went through the legs of the third baseman, scoring both runners and giving Carlisle a 3-1 lead.

After Carlisle catcher Jordan Brough and right fielder David McClintock each singled to drive in two more runs, Jeremiah Negley hit into another fielder's choice, bringing home the final Herd run of the inning.

The Wildcats (0-1) found it difficult scoring runs. They managed only three hits off Herd winning pitcher Brandon James, and stranded five runners in scoring position on the day.

"You have to make the plays and you gotta get the hits when you have the chance," Shirley said. "When you have runners in scoring position, you have to get them home."

Each time the Wildcats had a scoring opportunity, James snuffed it out. With runners on second and third and one out, he struck out Matt Gruber looking, then got second baseman Seth Pehanick on a ground out to first to end the fourth inning. The Herd also got a solid outing from reliever Kyle Shields, who pitched three scoreless innings, giving up only two hits.

"I thought Brandon pitched well, especially when we had the runners on second third," Mundorff said.

"It's great, great to be out (on the field)," James said of his performance on the mound. "It's still early in the season, and we're not in mid-season form yet, but it feels good to get it done, and as the season goes on we can only get better."

With the victory, Carlisle is only two wins away from equaling last season's win total of three, and players and coaches alike see no reason why they should stop there.

"Obviously, the ultimate goal is to win," said James, who finished with five strikeouts. "Mechanicsburg, they're a good team, so going in we had high expectations. Our pitching staff is young, and we're going to be good for the next couple of years. We're gonna hit the ball this year. We're gonna score runs."

"These guys are more talented, and we just need them to believe in themselves, because I think we can play," added Mundorff.

Wildcat starter Kevin Gorman pitched well in the loss, giving up only one earned run and three hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struggled with control in later innings, giving up five walks.

"I was happy with Kevin Gorman's performance," Shirley said. "He wasn't at his best today, but he gave us everything he had."

Jeremy Boone led the Wildcats in hitting, going 3-for-3 with three singles. Brough had two singles for the Herd.

Mechanicsburg will try to get back on track Tuesday when it travels to Chambersburg. Carlisle hosts Red Land Tuesday.

"We're going to be good and we're going to challenge teams in the top of our division," James said. "So I think teams are gonna have to look out for us."

THUNDERING HERD 6, WILDCATS 1
Carlisle 000 015 0 — 6
Mechanicsburg 000 100 0 — 1
THUNDERING HERD (6)
Dan Mellinger, cf, 5/1/1; Jordan Brough, c, 4/0/2; Brandon James, p, 1/0/0; David McClintock, rf, 4/0/2; Jeremiah Negley,1b, 4/0/0; David Dukes, 2b, 3/1/1, David Slusser, ss, 3/1/0; Scott Darhower, lf, 2/2/1; Wade Schlusser, 3b, 3/0/1. TOTALS 29/6/8.
WILDCATS (1)
Chris Bushey, lf, 4/0/0; Dan Amon, cf, 4/0/0; Jeremy Boone, ss, 3/1/3; Ryan Melick, c, 2/0/0; Josh Koontz, 1b, 3/0/1; Kevin Gorman, p, 2/0/0; Matt Gruber, 3b, 3/0/0; Seth Pehanich, 2b, 3/0/0; John Gleason, rf, 3/0/1. TOTALS 27/1/5.
Errors: M - 1; C - 0. Winning pitcher — James 4 inn., 1 run, 5 hits, 5SO, 1BB; Kyle Sayers 3 inn, 0 runs, 2 hits, 1SO, 1BB. Losing pitcher — Kevin Gorman 5.1 inn, 2 runs, 3 hits, 4SO, 5BB; Matt Gruber 1.2 inn, 4 runs, 5 hits, 2SO, 3BB.

Mechanicsburg 7, Chambersburg 6

In a Mid-Penn nondivision baseball matchup Tuesday, Mechanicsburg edged Chambersburg 7-6.

The Wildcats held a 7-0 lead into the sixth inning, but held on as the Trojans tried to make a late comeback.

John Gleason, Dan Amon, Jeremy Boone, Marcus Hancock, Kevin Gorman, Seth Pehanich and Chris Bushey each scored one run for Mechanicsburg in the win. Ryan Melick also helped with a double.

Mechanicsburg (1-1) hosts Cedar Cliff Thursday.

WILDCATS 7, TROJANS 6
Mechanicsburg 011 500 0 — 7
Chambersburg 000 002 4 — 6
WILDCATS (7)
John Gleason, rf, 4/1/1; Dan Amon, cf/p, 4/1/1; Jeremy Boone, ss, 3/1/1; Kevin Hellam, p/1b, 4/0/1; Marcus Hancock, pr, 0/1/1; Ryan Melick, c, 4/0/2; Kevin Gorman, 1b/lf, 3/1/1; Matt Gruber, p, 0/0/0; Josh Koontz, 3b, 4/0/1; Seth Pehanich, 2b, 4/1/1; Chris Bushey, lf/cf, 4/1/1. TOTALS 34/7/10.
TROJANS (6)
Casey, cf, 2/0/0; Olson, 3b, 3/1/0; Sleighter, dh, 2/1/0; Hinkle, p, 0/0/0; Burke, p, 0/0/0; McGwin, rf, 4/2/3; Stinger, ss, 3/2/2; Brown, lf, 4/0/0; Carter, c, 2/0/1; Frey, 1b, 4/0/0; Davis, 2b, 3/0/1. TOTALS 27/6/7.
Errors: M — 0; C — 4. Doubles: M - Melick. Triple: C - McGwin, Stinger. Winning pitcher: Kevin Hellam 6 inn., 3 runs, 5 hits, 7SO, 5BB. Amon 1/3 inn., 3 runs, 2 hits, 0SO, 1BB. Gruber 2/3 inn., 0 runs, 0 hits, 2SO, 0BB. Losing pitcher: Hinkle 3.3 inn., 7 runs, 8 hits, 3SO, 1BB; Burke 3.7 inn., 0 runs, 2 hits, 2SO, 1BB.

Mechanicsburg took a 1-0 lead against Cedar Cliff in the bottom of the second inning and hung on for the 1-0 win..

Pitcher Kevin Gorman picked up the win to raise his record to 1-1, at one point striking out six batters in a row.

Mechanicsburg 10, Hershey 3

Jeremy Boone went 3-for-5 with two runs scored Wednesday, as Mechanicsburg's baseball team beat Hershey 10-3 in Keystone Division action.

Matt Gruber had two hits and earned the win, allowing three runs on six hits through 4 1/3 innings. He struck out five.

Mechanicsburg (4-1, 3-0 Keystone) hosts Central Dauphin Monday.

KEYSTONE

Team Div. Overall

*-Mechanicsburg 3-0 4-1

Central Dauphin 2-2 3-4

Red Land 2-1 3-3

Hershey 1-1 2-2

CD East 1-1 1-3

Lower Dauphin 1-2 3-2

Cedar Cliff 1-2 2-3

Susq. Twp. 0-3 0-5

After a shaky start, Gorman's kept getting better too. Mechanicsburg dropped its season opener but has gone undefeated since then, and the Wildcats have a four-game win streak going.

Gorman struck out eight batters in the 1-0 win over Cedar Cliff, including a run of six straight K's. He pitched 2.2 innings in relief against Hershey, allowing three hits and no runs while fanning another six batters. On the other side of the ball, he had a hit and a run.

"I had that loss against Carlisle (in the season opener)," he says. "I was throwing a lot more balls and getting behind in the count."

But since then, he's used his concentration to turn that around.

"Now I've been getting ahead in the count. When you're ahead in the count, you can work batters to your advantage," he says. "I just take one pitch at a time and focus. (To keep from getting behind in the count,) you focus before each pitch, make sure each one is where you want it to be."

With a 4-1 overall record, the Wildcats' season is pretty much right where they want it to be. That might surprise people who didn't think Mechanicsburg could match last year's success (17-6 overall, 10-4 division).

"We had a real strong season (last year). We had a real big team," says Gorman. "This year we only have 13 players. We still have the talent, just not the numbers. We were picked to finish fifth at the beginning of the season."

But far from being insulted, Gorman and his teammates have reveled in those early low expectations.

"We like being the underdog," he says. "The first half of the season people don't know who you are or what pitchers they're going to pitch to you. That's where you get confidence. When you're the underdog in the beginning, you get easy wins and get ahead on teams. The second time around, you're going to get their best pitchers."

Gorman is the best pitcher in Mechanicsburg's three-man rotation. Last year, he shared pitching duties with Kevin Hellam and then-senior Bucky Kosyk.

"We just brought up a junior, Matt Gruber, and he's been pitching great," Gorman says. "I'm getting a little more innings (without Kosyk). Great pitching and good defense is what's kept us in games. Once we get our bats going, we're not going to need pitching as much."

Kevin Gorman

Mechanicsburg High School

Class: Senior.

What do you like best about baseball? It's a team sport, but especially with pitching and batting, it's individual too, you're on your own. You have to rely on yourself as much as on your teammates. It breaks down individually. You have to have just as much skill and can't depend on others all the time. And it's America's pastime, what is there not to like?

What has been your greatest accomplishment in baseball? Last year when we beat South Western in the playoffs. I had two big errors in the first inning. We were down 3-0 and the team just came right back and scored two runs in the bottom of that inning. That helped us out a lot. It showed how our team is. We don't ever give up.

Who is the toughest opponent you have faced? Dan Funt from Cumberland Valley last year. He had a couple of home runs off Bucky a couple times. And Ryan Loper. That was a scary combination, but luckily they both graduated.

What is the toughest team you have faced? Cumberland Valley last year. They gave us two great games. They ended me out early last year, hit a grand slam off me. Then they beat us last year in the (district) playoffs to knock us out. We still have to get a little revenge back on them.

How many years have you played baseball? Since I was five.

What do you consider your greatest strength in baseball? Pitching. I'm not solid as a hitter, so I guess it would have to be pitching.

What's your goal for this season? I definitely want to try to make states this year. We got knocked out at districts last year. Hopefully we'll win our division, go past districts and get to states.

Do you play other sports? Football.

What other activities in school are you involved in? Just athletics.

Who has been the most influential person in your life? My dad, William Gorman.

Favorite team? Oakland Athletics.

Favorite athlete? Rickey Henderson.

Favorite reading material? Sports Illustrated.

Favorite movie? "Seven."

Favorite TV show? "That 70s Show."

Pittsburgh or Penn State? Pittsburgh.

Penguins or Flyers? Flyers.

Eagles or Steelers? Eagles.

Mechanicsburg 5, Central Dauphin 2

Mechanicsburg opened an early 5-0 lead and never looked back, as the Wildcats went on to down visiting Central Dauphin 5-2.

Jeremy Boone had a bases-loaded double to drive in the fist two runs of the second inning. Teammates Chris Bushey and Ryan Melick drove in a run each with sacrifice fly's later in the inning.

Wildcats starter Kevin Gorman had a strong outing, going the distance while striking out 12 batters.

Lower Dauphin 4, Mechanicsburg 2

Lower Dauphin's baseball team scored three runs in the seventh inning to come from behind and beat Mechanicsburg 4-2 Friday. It was Mechanicsburg's first division loss.

"We had it, we just let it get way," Mechanicsburg coach Don Shirley said. "The guys played well, we just couldn't throw the strike or make the play when we needed to."

Dan Amon went 2-for-3 from the plate for the Wildcats, and Ryan Melick had both RBIs in the loss.

Mechanicsburg (5-2, 4-1 Keystone) plays at Susquehanna Twp. today.

Mechanicsburg 2, CD East 1

Mechanicsburg defeated visiting CD East 2-1 Monday in a Keystone Division matchup.

The Wildcats got two runs in the second inning when Matt Gruber doubled in Matt Gawlas for the first run. Ryan Melick followed with a solo home run that put Mechanicsburg ahead 2-0.

Wildcats' starter Kevin Gorman threw a complete game, giving up only one run on five hits.

With the win, the Wildcats (7-2, 6-1 Keystone) remain in sole possession of first place in the Keystone Division. They face Cedar Cliff at Citzen's Bank Park Thursday at 6.

Jeremy Boone and Chris Bushey each had a hit and a run scored Saturday as Mechanicsburg's baseball team beat Cedar Cliff 3-2 at City Island.

Matt Gruber scored the other run for the Wildcats.

Cedar Cliff shortstop Matt Curran went 2-for-3 with a run scored in the loss. Jon Zimmerman scored the other run for the Colts.

Cedar Cliff (4-6) hosts Susquehanna Twp. Tuesday to complete a suspended game.

KEYSTONE

Team Div. Overall

*-Mechanicsburg 7-1 8-2

Lower Dauphin 7-2 9-2

Hershey 6-3 8-5

Central Dauphin 4-5 5-8

Red Land 4-4 5-7

Cedar Cliff 3-5 4-6

CD East 3-6 5-8

Susq. Twp. 0-8 0-10

Monday's games

Hershey at Mechanicsburg, ppd.

Cedar Cliff at Red Land, ppd.

*-defending division champion

Hershey 6, Mechanicsburg 3

Hershey topped Mechanicsburg 6-3 Thursday in a Keystone Division matchup.

Trailing 3-2 heading into the top of the seventh, the Trojans scored four runs to take control.

Chris Bushey and Ryan Mellick each went 1-for-3 with a run scored for the Wildcats.

Mechanicsburg (8-4, 7-3 Keystone) host Susquehanna Township today.

Mechanicsburg 5, Susquehanna Twp. 2

Chris Bushey and Jeremy Boone each went 2-for-4 Friday as Mechanicsburg's baseball team defeated Susquehanna Twp. 5-2 in Keystone Division play.

Bushey scored two runs in the win, and Kevin Hellam allowed two runs on seven hits, to go with nine strikeouts, to earn the win.

Mechanicsburg (9-4, 8-3 Keystone) plays Monday at Lower Dauphin.

KEYSTONE

Team Div. Overall

#-Lower Dauphin 9-3 11-3

#-Hershey 9-3 11-5

#*-Mechanicsburg 8-3 9-4

Red Land 6-5 7-8

CD East 5-7 7-9

Cedar Cliff 4-7 5-8

Central Dauphin 4-7 5-10

Susq. Twp. 1-11 1-13

Monday's games

Red Land at Susquehanna Twp., 4

CD East at Cedar Cliff, 4

*-defending division champion

#-clinched Mid-Penn AAA playoff berth

Lower Dauphin 4, Mechanicsburg 2

First-place Lower Dauphin downed Mechanicsburg 4-2 Monday in a Keystone Division matchup.

Jeremy Boone went 2-for-4 with a double for the Wildcats, and left fielder Marcus Hancock went 1-for-2.

Mechanicsburg (9-5, 8-4) travels to CD East Wednesday.

CD East 5, Mechanicsburg 4

Brandon Snyder scored the game-winning run off a walk in the bottom of the 10th inning as Central Dauphin East defeated Mechanicsburg 5-4 Wednesday.

Snyder scored when Matt St. Clair drew a bases-loaded walk. Jeremy Boone led the Wildcats with two hits and two RBIs.

Mechanicsburg 7, Gettysburg 4

Mechanicsburg topped Gettysburg 7-4 Friday in Mid-Penn action.

Kevin Gorman went 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, and two runs scored for the Wildcats. Center fielder Dan Amon was 1-for-1 with two runs scored and Seth Pehanich went 2-for-4.

Mechanicsburg (10-6, 8-5) travels to Cumberland Valley Monday.

Poor defense, poor hitting and too many walks have plagued last year's District 3-AAA semifinalist the past few weeks with three losses in their last five games. After a disappointing loss to Central Dauphin East early last week, head coach Don Shirley had to be wondering if and when his team would snap out of its slump.

Wonder no more.

The third-place team in the Mid-Penn Keystone Division traveled to Cumberland Valley Monday and put together a solid 11-2 nondivision victory over the host Eagles. Wildcat starting pitcher Matt Gruber led the way, hurling seven innings in the hottest day of the spring to date.

Staked to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first, Gruber (4-0 for the season) scattered six singles in getting the win.

"He was able to get a lot of groundball outs," Shirley said. "The last two innings, he threw only six or eight pitches. He's had a great year. I hope he keeps it up."

Gruber carried a 3-0 record into the game

"Once I got the lead I just wanted to throw the ball across the plate," Gruber said. "With five runs in the first, that's a pretty good advantage. I was just letting the defense do its job."

And to Shirley's delight, the defense played very well behind Gruber. The Wildcats (11-6 overall) committed only one error - and that came from Gruber, who launched a pickoff throw out of play.

"We have been going through this bad spell, and the worst part is we haven't been fielding as well," Shirley said. "We were giving up too many walks and too many errors. We could have quit after the CD East game, but we came back. We just have to keep it up."

Mechanicsburg batted around in the first inning off CV starting pitcher Pat DiPaola, who struggled with control in his second appearance of the season. Unfortunately for him, the Eagle defense wasn't much better.

Cumberland Valley (12-5) looked like it picked up some of the Wildcat woes, struggling with pitching, fielding, and hitting. CV committed five errors, allowed eight walks and hit one batter as four pitchers took the mound.

"(Mechanicsburg) played well and beat us," CV head coach Mike Whitehead Jr. said matter-of-factly. "We just have to be better than that. They were ready to play today."

Mechanicsburg leadoff hitter Chris Bushey walked and stole second. Eagle catcher Kris Aumiller's throw bounced into center field, allowing Bushey to go to third base.

Seth Pehanich promptly ripped an RBI single. Jeremy Boone reached on an error. After John Gleason reached on the third Eagle error of the inning, Wildcat designated hitter Matt Gawlas struck the big blow, a two-run double down the left-field line to cap the scoring.

"We have been hitting it better lately," Shirley said. "We hit a low spell the last week of the regular season. I hope the game against East was the end of it. We have been swinging the bats well lately, however, it has been a mystery all year.

"Then again, we have seen a lot of good pitchers this year."

The Wildcats also added five runs in the last inning, on two-run singles by Ryan Melick and Boone. Melick enjoyed a 3-for-5 day from the plate and Pehanich went 2-for-4.

However, as important as it was for Mechanicsburg to get some momentum, the Eagles have their sights on bigger and better things this week.

With Commonwealth leader Chambersburg beating Gettysburg 6-2 Monday, the Eagles need to win one more game this week - either Wednesday at Carlisle or Friday against West Perry - to nail down the ever-so-important second seed to automatically qualify for districts.

Because of that, Cumberland Valley head coach Mike Whitehead Jr. rested starting T.J. Horn and Shayne Wilkinson (a combined 6-1) Monday.

"We have to regroup," Whitehead Jr. said. "Our pitchers will be ready to go. We have to be ready for Carlisle on Wednesday."

Horn was the only Eagle to have a multi-hit game. He hit the ball hard all three times up in his 2-for-3 performance.

Shaun Baker, Kevin Plott and Kyle Bobb had the other hits for the Eagles.

Mechanicsburg has already qualified for districts, but is in third place in the Keystone Division. Still, this win was very important to Gruber - and he got the feeling it was for his coach, too.

"We have been falling apart," Gruber said. "We normally give CV a fight, but they usually come out on top. But, we wanted it bad and we wanted to win. We hit the ball well, I threw strikes and we got the job done."

Cumberland Valley travels to George Bowen field in Carlisle for Wednesday's showdown.

Mechanicsburg travels to East Pennsboro Friday.

In Class AAA, Carlisle locked up the Commonwealth Division's fourth seed with its one-run win over Cumberland Valley and Waynesboro's 6-2 loss to Shippensburg earlier in the afternoon. The AAA field consists of Chambersburg, CV, Gettysburg, Carlisle, Lower Dauphin, Hershey, Mechanicsburg and Red Land.

Mechanicsburg 4, Central Dauphin 1

Mechanicsburg defeated Central Dauphin 4-1 Wednesday in a Keystone Division matchup.

Jeremy Boone had three of the four Wildcat hits, finishing 3-for-4 with a double.

Mechanicsburg (12-6) travels to East Pennsboro Friday.

Unfortunately for Carlisle's baseball team, one inning not only meant losing, but the end of a terrific season that will fall just short of a spot in the District 3-AAA playoffs.

The third inning was the point of doom for the Herd in the first round of the Mid-Penn Class AAA playoffs Monday at Memorial Park in Mechanicsburg. It wasn't so much what Carlisle didn't do, but rather what Mechanicsburg did.

The Wildcats (13-6) erased a one-run deficit with a five-run third inning en route to a 6-1 win to advance to play Cumberland Valley today.

Mechanicsburg locked up a D3-AAA berth with the win over Carlisle. The winner of today's game with CV will play for the third seed Wednesday.

"This is good because they beat us in the beginning of the season," Wildcat designated hitter Josh Koontz said. "It shows we've improved. Now we can go a game at a time. We just need to continue to play like we did today."

Carlisle (11-9) tried to take the momentum in the top of the third inning.

With the bases loaded in a scoreless game and only one out, Dave McClintock blooped a single to give the Herd a brief 1-0 lead. However, Wildcat starter Kevin Gorman struck out both the hot-hitting Brandon James and designated hitter Jeremiah Negley on high fastballs to escape further damage.

"I was just trying to get the pitch close and use being ahead in the count to my advantage," Gorman said. "I didn't get ahead much in the game, but we knew they chased high fastballs and low breaking balls. That was our strategy on the 3-4-5 hitters."

With the game still in the balance, the Wildcats came to bat with renewed life. After Mechanicsburg's Chris Bushey grounded out, Gorman reached on a sharp grounder that Carlisle shortstop Wade Schlusser took off his foot. Leadoff hitter Dan Amon then walked to move courtesy runner Matt Gawlas to second base.

With runners on first and second base, Seth Pehanich lined out to Schlusser for the second out of the inning. Jeremy Boone broke the ice for the Wildcats, ripping an RBI double down the right-field line, just out of the reach of a diving Lance Bonner.

After McClintock failed to pick the ball up the first time, Amon continued on around to score and the Wildcats led 2-1. After Boone moved to third on a wild pitch, Ryan Melick walked. After Melick moved to second base without a play, the next pitch was essentially the ballgame.

Koontz deposited James' 1-0 pitch over the short fence in right-center field and the Wildcats had a commanding 5-1 lead.

"That was great," Koontz said of his blast. "I wasn't trying to hit a home run. I was just trying to get the baserunners home. I made solid contact, and it just went out."

The home run also gave Gorman just what he needed - a comfortable lead with which to work.

"(Five runs) takes a load off your shoulders, especially for our team," Gorman said. "We are usually in one- or two-run ballgames. Once and awhile we get on a streak, and it was nice to knock them out in one inning."

"Knock them out" was just what Gorman did on the mound from there. The right-hander, with a delivery straight out of "Funkytown," settled down to retire 11 of the next 12 hitters, six by strikeout.

Gorman allowed just that single run on four hits. He struck out 11 and walked four.

"Gorman has been tough all year," Mechanicsburg head coach Don Shirley said. "He's not used to having a big lead. But these two teams are even. It comes down to a couple breaks or hits. They are a good team, and James is a quality pitcher. He just got a pitch up to Koontz and he hit it over the fence."

James, who was relieved by Jeremiah Negley in the fifth inning, allowed all six runs, but only one was earned. Negley kept his team in the game by throwing 1.2 scoreless innings of relief.

Perhaps if the Thundering Herd could have taken advantage of Gorman in that third inning, their season may have continued.

"We had our chances and didn't capitalize on them," Carlisle head coach Harry Mundorff said. "He pitched well on us. We didn't make a play on defense and didn't make a pitch, and that was basically the inning."

Boone and Koontz each went 2-for-3 to lead Mechanicsburg. Koontz knocked in four runs, including an RBI double in the fifth to go with his three-run shot. Ryan Melick was also a big part of the Wildcat offense, with a 1-for-2 day and two runs scored.

With the 6-1 win, Mechanicsburg avenged a loss to the Herd early in the season, by the score of, you guessed it, 6-1.

"When we played them the first time, we swung at a lot of bad pitches," Shirley said. "Today, we got them to take some cuts when the ball was up. With that little bit of cushion, our team relaxed."

Carlisle sees its season end, but for the Herd it was a successful campaign to get back to the postseason.

"We are much improved with this group of guys," Mundorff said. "It's disappointing, but today Mechanicsburg played better than we did."

Shirley offered this final thought about Mundorff and his team.

"(Mundorff) is going to retire from teaching this year, but I hope he continues to coach," he said. "He is a credit to the coaching profession. His kids play well, and play like gentlemen."

Mechanicsburg plays at Cumberland Valley today at 4 p.m. The winner will face the winner of today's Gettysburg-Hershey game Wednesday in the third-seed game. The loser will play the Gettysburg-Hershey loser Wednesday for the fifth seed.

An extra inning was no object Tuesday as the Mechanicsburg pitcher hurled an eight-inning no-hitter against rival Cumberland Valley in the Mid-Penn Class AAA playoffs.

Teammate Ben Bushey provided the firepower in the 2-0 win, pounding an eighth-inning pitch off the center-field fence and out-racing the relays for a two-run inside-the-park homer.

Gerald Gruber went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored in the win.

The win pits Mechanicsburg at Hershey today at 4 p.m. for the No. 3 seed in next week's District 3-AAA playoffs; Cumberland Valley hosts Gettysburg today at 4 p.m. to determine the fifth seed.

"This is a team that's gone through some adversity this season," Mechanicsburg head coach Don Shirley said. "Kevin was absolutely perfect today. He threw big pitches when he had to."

In reality, Hellam, who struck out eight and walked three, wasn't quite perfect - but in a tough-luck season for the senior, it was pretty close.

A force on the mound last year, Hellam and then-pitcher/first baseman Bucky Kosyk were two key players on a Wildcats team that went 17-6 and won two games in the District 3-AAA playoffs - better than Mechanicsburg had done in the four previous seasons.

Hellam no-hit Carlisle during the 2003 campaign, though the game ended after five innings because Mechanicsburg led 12-0.

This season, though, much of that run support appeared to have left with last year's graduating seniors. Hellam hadn't allowed more than four runs in seven appearances in 2004, but the senior carried a 3-2 record into Tuesday's game.

This season has "not been my best," he said. "I think I worked harder in the offseason last year - and there have been some unlucky games this year."

Hellam didn't leave much to chance Tuesday.

He walked CV cleanup hitter Kyle Bobb to open the second inning, but that was the only baserunner he allowed through seven innings.

The senior appeared to get stronger as the scoreless game dragged on, firing a lot of heat - and a few clear to the backstop. Hellam struck out more batters over the final three innings (five) than he did over the first five (three).

"I was just shook up in that second inning," Hellam said of the pitches that cleared everyone around home plate.

Then he smirked.

"I know when I'm batting, I hate seeing balls go all the way to the backstop," he said. "It probably loosened me up knowing they didn't know what was coming."

A number of Eagles didn't spend long enough in the batters' box to get fooled. Eight times a CV batter didn't see more than two pitches in an at-bat. Five made outs on the first pitch they saw, including the final out of the game, a dribbler back to Hellam.

"The only think I recommended (to my players) was to swing at strikes," CV coach Mike Whitehead Jr. said. "I wanted them to be aggressive if (the pitches were) in the zone.

"He pitched one heck of a game. We hit the ball hard, but they never fell in."

Mechanicsburg, meanwhile, kept getting runners in scoring position, only to see the opportunities vanish.

With the help of walks and aggressive baserunning, the Wildcats put runners on base in every inning except the sixth, but stranded nine in scoring position.

That all changed in the eighth.

With one out, Gruber ripped a single through the left side of the infield, then advanced to second base on a passed ball.

Hellam struck out for the second out of the inning, but Bushey took care of the rest.

With a 2-1 count, Eagles pitcher Chris Mengle came with a fastball - and Bushey was ready for it. The junior pounded the ball to the wall, beyond the reach of center fielder Kevin Plott.

Gruber flew home and Bushey slid into third as the Eagles worked the relay back toward the infield. Shirley kept waving, so Bushey found his feet and bolted for the plate, getting there ahead of the throw.

"The pitch before that was right down the middle, and I fouled it off," Bushey said. "I thought, 'If he throws that again, I'm gonna hit it somewhere.'"

Hellam built on the momentum by striking out the first two CV batters in the bottom of the eighth inning. Eagles Jordan Abner and Kyle Paukert worked two-out walks, but T.J. Horn grounded back to Hellam to end the game.

CV, the defending D3-AAA champions, will look to rebound today against Gettysburg, hoping to secure the highest seed possible for its title defense. Whitehead said Horn will likely get the start on the mound.

"I've never been in this situation where we're already in (districts)," the coach said. "Last year we were fourth in the division and we won it, so why not (at fifth or sixth)?

"This is a new year and there are a lot of new players - but there are also guys who were in it last year, and that carried us last year. I think we'll be fine. Once you're in the district tournament, every team is good enough to win it. It just takes a break here or there."

The Wildcats will look for their third win in three days today against Hershey.

"(Winning) is better for the morale of the team," Hellam said. "We're happy just to be in the playoffs. I don't pay attention to the seed."

CLASS AAA

First Round

May 24

Chambersburg (MP 1) 6, Garden Spot (LL 5) 0

Penn Manor (LL 2) 6, Dover (YAIAA 2) 2

Cumberland Valley (MP 5) 11, Governor Mifflin (Berks 1) 4

Mechanicsburg took a quick 8-0 lead after two innings, then hung in to win 12-5 over Lancaster-Lebanon No. 3 seed Lampeter-Strasburg in the first round of the District 3 Class AAA baseball playoffs Monday at Wenger Field.

Seth Pehanich and Jeremy Boone scored to put the Wildcats up 2-0 in the first inning, and Josh Koontz made it 3-0 early in the second. Boone and Josh Koontz each belted a two-run double before the end of the second, and Koontz had the final score of the inning.

Marcus Hancock scored his second run of the night for the only Mechanicsburg tally in the third. The Wildcats went scoreless in the fourth and fifth, while the Pioneers managed one run in the fourth inning.

Pehanich and courtesy runner Joe Kipchick each scored to make it 11-1 Wildcats through the top of the fifth. Lampeter-Strasburg mounted a modest comeback, plating three runners in the bottom of the sixth, but Hancock added one more run for Mechanicsburg in the seventh.

Pehanich went 5-for-5, including two doubles, and scored three runs. Boone had two doubles and scored twice, and Hancock crossed the plate three times.

Ryan Melick had two singles and a run for the Wildcats, the Mid-Penn No. 4 seed, while Matt Gruber had a single and a double.

Kevin Gorman started for Mechanicsburg and pitched the first three innings to earn the win, allowing just two hits and striking out two. He did not walk a batter. Gruber entered the game in the fourth inning and pitching the rest of the way. He scattered four hits while striking out four and walking three.

"We had a great defensive game. We didn't have any errors," said Wildcats coach Don Shirley. "We played great defense and of course hit the ball. That's what it takes."

Mechanicsburg advances to the Class AAA quarterfinals, where the Wildcats will play Mid-Penn No. 5 seed Cumberland Valley Thursday at a site to be named.

After the Wildcats opened the season with a home loss to Carlisle (a team Hellam no-hit in five innings last season), Mechanicsburg didn't appear to be as good as advertised. But as the season progressed, the team grew more confident and the wins started to pile up.

"We did well after the start, but right now we're playing the best ball we've played all year," Hellam said. "Everyone is hitting real well and our defense has been outstanding. I think I'm starting to get into the groove with my pitching. I had some unlucky breaks early, but now I'm pitching the best I've been all year."

After dispatching Carlisle in the opening round of the Mid-Penn playoffs, the Wildcats had a date with CV, the team that knocked them out of the District 3 playoffs last season.

It was no problem for Hellam, who threw an eight inning no-hitter in the 2-0 win.

"I was a little shaky, then I finished out the seventh," Hellam admitted. "I wanted it to be done, but I had to get it done in the eighth. (Chris) Bushey came up real big with (an RBI triple). I was real nervous in the eighth, just rushing to get through it. I was just getting the ball and chucking it."

Although Hellam put on an impressive performance, he is the first to admit that he couldn't have done it without some outstanding defense, particularly from Kevin Gorman, who made a diving catch at third base on a line drive to rob the Eagles of a sure hit.

"Our defense is the strongest (part of our game)," Hellam said. "Lately we haven't given up too many errors, and our outfielders have been doing good. The turning point (in the no-hitter) was the catch Gorman made."

Regardless of how well the Wildcats do the rest of this season, Hellam is pleased. He's going to Shippensburg in the fall to play football, and he will get another chance at CV in today's District 3 quarterfinals.

"I think we've seen their players a lot and we know how they play," Hellam said of CV. "I'm just playing out my last year and trying to have fun with it."

Kevin Hellam
Mechanicsburg baseball

* Class: Senior

* What do you like best about baseball? I love to pitch.

* Who is the toughest opponent you have faced? Irvin Sleighter

* What is the toughest team you have faced? Chambersburg

* How many years have you played baseball? Four years

* What do you consider your greatest strength in baseball? I'm always ready to pitch.

* What are your goals for this season? Try to win out in districts, try to win states

* What other activities in school are you involved in? Football

* Who has been the most influential person in your life? My parents

* Person you'd most like to meet (alive or dead)? Any NFL offensive lineman

* Favorite team? Yankees, Dolphins

* Favorite athlete? Derek Fisher

* Favorite book? "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley

* Favorite movie? "Forrest Gump"

* Favorite TV show? "Seinfeld"

* Pittsburgh or Penn State? Pittsburgh

* Penguins or Flyers? Flyers

* Eagles or Steelers? Steelers

The District 3 quarterfinal game between Cumberland Valley and Mechanicsburg was everything it was hyped to be: two great baseball teams playing their hearts out in a must-win scenario.

It was one of those games that fans, players and coaches never want to end. And for at least one night, their wishes came true.

Wildcat Marcus Hancock bolted home with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game at 3-3. Neither team could manage another run and the game was suspended after 10 innings due to township laws that prohibit the stadium lights at Creekview Park to be on after 11 p.m.

"It was a battle, and hopefully one team will end it here soon," CV head coach Mike Whitehead said. "Both teams had chances to win, both teams are playing well and it's a shame that one team has to lose this game. But that's the name of the game here."

"It was a classic game between two well-balanced teams, two teams that are playing their hearts out," Mechanicsburg head coach Don Shirley said. "It hasn't been a game of momentum at all. It's just been a game of two tough teams battling the whole way."

While the game will be continued at Creekview today at 5 p.m., both head coaches will now have to rethink their game plans and rosters for the game's conclusion.

Mechanicsburg starting pitcher Kevin Hellam and reliever Kevin Gorman are now unavailable to throw today, meaning Shirley will have to go another route with his pitching staff.

"Obviously now, we're done with Gorman and Hellam, and that mixes things up," Shirley said. "But that's the way it is."

Whitehead finds himself in a similar bind. Starter T.J. Horn lasted 6 1/3 innings before he was replaced with Kris Mengle, so both pitchers will be on the bench when play resumes today. Shayne Wilkinson, the Eagles' No. 1 starter, was used as a pinch hitter in the top of the sixth inning, so he, too, will be unavailable.

"He's been swinging the bat well," Whitehead said of his choice to use Wilkinson. "I can't look past to the next day - we didn't expect to go this many innings. So we'll have to move on to our other pitchers and get it done with our bats. I'll make a decision (on who's pitching) on the bus ride home."

Whitehead can't be too upset that he chose to play Wilkinson as a hitter. With the score tied 2-2, Wilkinson led off the sixth inning by fouling off eight straight pitches from Gorman. The ninth must have been the one he was looking for, as he connected for a shot over the leftfielder's head that resulted in an inside-the-park home run.

CV rode that one-run lead into the bottom of the seventh, where the Eagles were only three outs away from a date with Chambersburg, which defeated Penn Manor 4-2 Thursday in the district semifinals.

After Horn got the first batter to ground out to first and the eighth and ninth hitter due up for the Wildcats, it looked like the Eagles had punched their ticket.

But Horn started to lose control of the game, hitting Hancock and giving up a single to Gorman that advanced Hancock to third. Whitehead called for the intentional walk, loading the bases with just one out.

Mengle entered the game in relief and promptly gave up a single to Seth Pehanich, plating Hancock and tying the game.

Mengle bore down after Pehanich's hit and retired Jeremy Boone and Ryan Melick to send the game into extra innings.

The Wildcats had a chance to put the game away in the bottom of the eighth, with runners on first and second with just one out. But Mengle struck out Hancock looking and Gorman flied out to end the inning.

Mechanicsburg's Kevin Gorman was a little disappointed in his 1-for-3 effort Thursday night against Cumberland Valley, but he didn't get down on himself. The teams left Creekview Park after 10 innings locked in a 3-3 tie, and he knew he'd get another chance.

"When you're 1-for-3, you know you're gonna come through once in a while," he said.

He came through in a big way Friday when the game resumed, belting a 13th-inning single that scored Chris Bushey with the game-winner as the Wildcats beat the Eagles 4-3 in the District 3 Class AAA baseball quarterfinals.

Mechanicsburg advances to the semis, where the Wildcats will play Chambersburg for a chance to move on to the D3-AAA title game. The loss ends CV's season, making it something of a payback for the Wildcats, who ended their season last year in a 4-3 loss to the Eagles in the D3-AAA semifinals.

Friday marked the third time the Wildcats defeated the Eagles this season, and the second time in two weeks the teams went to extra innings. Mechanicsburg beat CV 2-0 in Kevin Hellam's eight-inning no-hitter in the Mid-Penn playoffs.

"We beat a very, very good team," Wildcats coach Don Shirley said. "To beat anybody three times is incredible. I've never been through a game like this, 13 innings over two days.

"Kevin Gorman was big. He had a great two days."

Bushey singled to lead off the bottom of the 13th inning. Marcus Hancock followed by rolling a bunt toward the third-base line. The throw to first was wild for a two-base error, putting Bushey on third and Hancock on second with no outs.

"Marcus had a great bunt," Shirley said.

It was up to Gorman, who was batting ninth and who had already singled in the bottom of the 11th.

Eagles pitcher Tim Flannery delivered a pair of quick strikes to put the count at 0-2. But Gorman wasn't about to settle for a 1-for-2 night, and when he cracked the third pitch into right field, Bushey tore across the plate with the winning run.

"I was just hoping Kevin got a hit or someone would hit it to the outfield," Bushey said. "It felt great. We worked so hard through 13 innings."

While Cumberland Valley twice put runners in scoring position Friday, Mechanicsburg hung tough both times.

Eagle Adam Gsell walked to lead off the top of the 11th. A fielding error at first put Kyle Paukert on base while Gsell made it all the way to third with no outs.

But Matt Gruber, who took over pitching duties when the game resumed, nabbed Kevin Plott's grounder and threw out Plott at first. Gruber then coaxed Shawn Baker into swinging at a 2-2 pitch, and Nate Kranz popped up to Wildcat catcher Ryan Melick to end the inning.

CV threatened again in the top of the 13th, when Kris Aumiller led off with a double. Gsell followed with a sacrifice fly that put courtesy runner Justin Filson on third with one out. Flannery was next up, with the top of the Eagle lineup right behind him.

Flannery flied out to left-fielder Amon, who rocketed a throw to Gorman at third to catch Filson for the inning-ending double play.

"We had many chances, we just didn't capitalize," CV coach Mike Whitehead Jr. said. "They made the plays when they needed to.

"It's a tough way to lose."

Gruber earned the win for the Wildcats, allowing one hit in three innings and striking out two.

"I think you have to give a lot of credit to Matt Gruber. He was just fantastic," Shirley said. "He got off to a rocky start, but he's a great competitor. He didn't get himself in a hole, he dug himself out."

The Eagles' season is over, but starting pitcher T.J. Horn found something to look forward to.

"Our seniors can look back on this at college," he said. "We only have six seniors, so we should have an awesome team next year."

CLASS AAA

First Round

May 24

Chambersburg (MP 1) 6, Garden Spot (LL 5) 0

Penn Manor (LL 2) 6, Dover (YAIAA 2) 2

Cumberland Valley (MP 5) 11, Governor Mifflin (Berks 1) 4

Mechanicsburg (MP 4) 12, Lampeter-Strasberg (LL 3) 5

Hempfield (LL 1) 7, Gettysburg (MP 6) 3

Susquehannock (YAIAA 3) 5, Lower Dauphin (MP 2) 2

Ephrata (LL 4) 8, South Western (YAIAA 1) 4

Hershey (MP 3) 14, Wilson (Berks 2) 5

Quarterfinals

May 27

Chambersburg (MP 1) 4, Penn Manor (LL 2) 2

Cumberland Valley (MP 5) 3, Mechanicsburg (MP 4) 3, susp. 10th inn.

Hempfield (LL 1) 11, Susquehannock (YAIAA 3) 2

Ephrata (LL 4) 6, Hershey (MP 3) 6, susp. 10th inn.

May 28

Mechanicsburg (MP 4) 4, Cumberland Valley (MP 5) 3, 13 inn.

Ephrata (LL 4) 7, Hershey (MP 3) 6

Semifinals

June 1

Chambersburg (MP 1, 20-3) vs. Mechanicsburg (MP 4, 16-7) at Shippensburg, ppd.

Hempfield (LL 1, 22-4) vs. Ephrata (LL 4, 11-10) at Manheim Twp., ppd.

June 2

Chambersburg (MP 1, 20-3) vs. Mechanicsburg (MP 4, 16-7) at Shippensburg, ppd.

Hempfield (LL 1) 10, Ephrata (LL 4) 1

June 3

Chambersburg (MP 1) 3, Mechanicsburg (MP 4) 2

Mechanicsburg senior pitcher Kevin Gorman battled through 31 Chambersburg batters Thursday in the District 3 Class AAA baseball semifinals, winning some of those battles, losing some, but doing enough to help keep his team in the game.

It wasn't his prettiest performance of the year, but Gorman and the Wildcat defense held the Trojans at bay long enough to mount a signature late-inning comeback to tie the game.

Then came the pitch to Andy Carter in the bottom of the seventh inning that resulted in a triple to deep left-center field at Shippensburg's Memorial Park. Three batters later, Drew McGwin singled Carter home to give Chambersburg a 3-2 win and end the Wildcats' season.

"Kevin, he'll admit, wasn't at his best," Mechanicsburg head coach Don Shirley said. "But I give him all the credit - he had only one bad pitch all night."

Chambersburg, which also secured a berth in the PIAA playoffs with the win, faces Hempfield, the top seed from Lancaster-Lebanon League, in the D3-AAA title game today at 6 p.m. at Wenger Field.

Mechanicsburg, which wrapped up its season with a 16-8 record, fell one game shy of states for the second straight year. The Wildcats lost to Cumberland Valley in the District 3-AAA semifinals last season.