On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, the Curwensville Golden Tide traveled to Robert T. Forney Field to take on the hometown West Branch Warriors. Lukas Colton started on the mound for the Warriors. The ace opened the game strong, shutting down the Tide and allowing only a walk in the top of the first inning. The Warriors’ bats, however, started cold, with no hits in the bottom half.
In the second inning, the Tide got their first hit of the game, but Colton struck out the next three batters in order. The Warriors’ offensive lull continued, with a walk and three strikeouts in the bottom half of the second inning.
Curwensville began to heat up in the third inning, as a walk, double, and single brought in two runs for the Golden Tide. The Warriors responded, however, with a walk by Coby Kephart, a fielder’s choice from Colton, and singles from Nick Parks and Caleb Hudson that pushed across one run.
Colton was dominant in the top of the fourth, striking out the side—three up, three down.
The Warriors took over in the bottom of the fourth. Hansen Lannen started the rally for the Warriors with a single. A walk from Kaleb Kio and a bunt single from Coby Kephart tied the game at 2. Colton was then intentionally walked, and Frankie Leskovansky singled to knock in two more runs. Parks reached on an error, scoring another run. Another single from Lannen added two more runs for West Branch. Singles from Kio and Kephart drove in another two runs. Colton then drove a two-RBI double into the gap, later scoring on two wild pitches. Hudson wrapped up the inning with a two-RBI single, bringing the score to 14-2.
In the top of the fifth, after a walk from the Tide, Colton retired the next three batters to seal the win for West Branch.
The Warriors are now 3-2 on the season, and Colton is 2-0 with a 2.05 ERA and 26 strikeouts.
Caleb Hudson commented on the win: “This one felt good. We are a young team, but we are very talented. It’s hard not to think we could win a lot of games this season. Lukas did what he needed to, and we hit the ball—sometimes that’s all you need.”
The Warriors (3-2) are back in action on Monday, April 7th, as they take on the Northern Cambria Colts (6-0).
