Central Mountain baseball was well aware of that heading into Tuesday’s District 6 Class 5A championship against Hollidaysburg (20-2). But despite its readiness and fight, mistakes held it back from defending last year’s title.

Starting pitcher Vince Boland pitched a strong game for the Golden Tigers, striking out nine, scattering four hits and keeping the Wildcats from cutting too deeply into their lead. Defensively, two Central Mountain errors helped Hollidaysburg post a three-run second inning, and the Golden Tigers never looked back once they took that initial lead, winning their second district title in three seasons by a score of 7-3.

“You give yourself a really good chance if you can minimize mistakes, play clean and have timely hits,” said Central Mountain baseball manager Mike Kramer following the contest. “We gave up some runs early in the game, which put us behind the eight ball against a solid pitcher. We didn’t have the right approach at time, and (Boland) took advantage of that.”

“He commands two or three pitches, with an out pitch that had us stymied there. He did an excellent job, so hats off to him,” Kramer added on Boland.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Hollidaysburg's Vince Boland pitches during the District 6 Class 5A baseball championship against Central Mountain at Bald Eagle on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The Wildcats fell 7-3.

After a solid first frame of defense, things quickly took a turn in the second.

A fielding error at third led off Hollidaysburg’s highest-scoring inning of the afternoon, and a throwing error at first led to Tanner Rossman waltzing in for the team’s first run three batters later. And with a sac-fly from Braden Hatch and RBI double from Josh Banks, the Golden Tigers were able to build off that initial spark, jumping out to an early, 3-0 lead.

In a game where runs were expected to be at a premium, that could’ve ushered in doubt and even panic as the Wildcats worked to respond. But they stayed poised and did what they could to cut into Hollidaysburg lead, working themselves into position to shake things up even if it didn’t fully materialize into a rally.

In the third, Central Mountain starting pitcher Blake Walker threw his best inning of the afternoon, securing his second strikeout and only allowing one runner to get on base in a four-batter frame. And one frame later, the Wildcats were on the board, as Hayes Miller took a leadoff walk the distance thanks to a Yayfran Sanchez single and Hollidaysburg throwing error.

“I wasn’t concerned,” said Kramer when discussing Hollidaysburg early surge. “I knew if we got some guys on base, we had guys coming up that could put a good swing on it.”

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Austin Frank (11) celebrates a walk during the District 6 Class 5A baseball championship against Holllidaysburg at Bald Eagle on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The Wildcats fell 7-3.

Behind a similar response, Central Mountain’s best opportunity to turn the tide came between the fifth and seventh. Despite going into the bottom of the fifth trailing 6-1, it would ultimately fall one base appearance short of the tying run stepping up to bat in all three innings.

With two outs on the board in the fifth, Walker followed up a single from Felix Oquendo with the best result imaginable, belting a two-run shot over the leftfield wall to cut the deficit to three. Watt Probst then fought for a seven-pitch walk, but a quick strikeout from Boland would halt the two-out surge.

Though Hollidaysburg responded with a one-run shot of its own, the Wildcats continued fighting.

A Luke Nonemaker single and Austin Frank walk gave them two base runners in the sixth, with one out and a change at pitcher for the Golden Tigers. And in the seventh, Oquendo reached on a throwing error before Probst slipped a grounder between Hollidaysburg’s third baseman and shortstop for a timely single, again giving CM two base runners with one out.

Both occasions saw Hollidaysburg hold firm, with relieving pitcher Cole Hartman throwing two clutch strikeouts to close the sixth and centerfielder Nate Phillips making a difficult, diving catch to seal the deal. But it’s hard to deny the Wildcats created chances to rally.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Hayes Miller (1) takes his base after a walk during the District 6 Class 5A baseball championship against Holllidaysburg at Bald Eagle on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The Wildcats fell 7-3.

“I never felt like we were out of it even in the end there,” said Kramer on those late efforts. “We were putting guys on. All we needed were a couple more hits from them.”

With the loss, Central Mountain closed out its 2026 season as District 6 Class 5A runners-up with a 14-5 record. Apart from the lost COVID campaign, it’s just the second time since 2018 that the Wildcats haven’t taken home the district crown.

Moving forward, the going could get rough for the program, with ten seniors filling numerous starting slots set to graduate. That storied group, which played a crucial role in both last year’s district title and this year’s solid campaign, was one of the main vocal points in Kramer’s post-game speech following the contest.

“The message to the team was that these seniors have elevated the program, and they’re going to take their quality work ethic beyond the game, go out and be successful in whatever they do,” said Kramer. “They’re outstanding individuals and we loved each and every one of them. They gelled as a team, which helped us have a successful season.”

Hollidaysburg 7, Central Mountain 3

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Felix Oquendo heads to first during the District 6 Class 5A baseball championship against Holllidaysburg at Bald Eagle on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The Wildcats fell 7-3.

(DISTRICT 6 CLASS 5A BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP)

Hollidaysburg 030 211 0 – 7 10 2

C. Mountain 001 020 0 – 3 5 2

Vince Boland, Cole Hartman (6) and Braden Hatch. Blake Walker, Austin Frank (4), Austin Andrus (6) and Watt Probst. W – Boland. L – Walker.

Top Hollidaysburg hitters: Josh Banks 2-3, HR, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Mason Mierley 2-4, 2 RBIs; Nate Phillips 2-3, 2B, 2 runs; D Miller 2-4, 2B; Braden Hatch 1-3, RBI. Top Central Mountain hitters: Blake Walker 1-4, HR, 2 RBIs, run; Felix Oquendo 1-4, run; Watt Probst 1-2, 2 BBs; Luke Nonemaker 1-2, BB; Hayes Miller run; Yayfran Sanchez 1-3.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Blake Walker, back center, celebrates with his teammates after hitting a home run during the District 6 Class 5A baseball championship against Holllidaysburg at Bald Eagle on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The Wildcats fell 7-3.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Austin Frank pitches during the District 6 Class 5A baseball championship against Holllidaysburg at Bald Eagle on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The Wildcats fell 7-3.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Dane Hanna makes a diving catch during the District 6 Class 5A baseball championship against Holllidaysburg at Bald Eagle on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The Wildcats fell 7-3.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Darius Shade fields an out during the District 6 Class 5A baseball championship against Holllidaysburg at Bald Eagle on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The Wildcats fell 7-3.