Montgomery’s Sloan Wooten (11) celebrates with his teammates after scoring in the first inning against Sullivan County Friday April 14, 2023 at Montgomery High School. Montgomery won 8-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
MONTGOMERY–Sloan Wooten gave Montgomery more than a reliable bat and stellar second base defense last year.
He serves as a bridge. The lone underclassman to start, Wooten bridges the gap between the senior class and a talented, but very young set of reserves. Back, Wooten helped both teams improve.
Montgomery captured the Class A state championship in June and now one of the youngest teams in the area is getting stronger as it gains more experience. Wooten went from lone underclassman starter to team leader in 12 months. And on Friday, Wooten led Montgomery to an impressive victory.
Wooten pitched a three-hit shutout, struck out eight and went 2 for 4 as Montgomery beat Sullivan County, 8-0, winning its second straight game and handing the Griffins their first Mid-Penn loss . The Red Raiders (4-3) won their second straight game, eight players combined for 13 hits and the defense played error-free softball as all the pieces continued to come together.
“A lot of women look up to me and I want to be there for them, like Faith (Persing) is for me,” Wooten said after also going 2 for 4. “I just want to be a leader for these girls.’
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Montgomery’s Sloan Wooten slides safely into second base as Sullivan County’s Brianna Bottiglieri tries to make a play at second base Friday April 14, 2023 at Montgomery High School. Montgomery won 8-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
He is sure to be great in the new role.
A passionate player who excelled in big moments across the state in Montgomery’s state title run, Wooten talked the talk and walked the walk. He set the tone at the top of Montgomery’s lineup and pitched his best high school game yesterday, surrendering just one hit over the final six innings, while matching a career high in strikeouts. The Red Raiders played super defense behind Wooten and Montgomery scored three first-inning runs to pull ahead.
“Sloan was the in-between girl last year. She was good friends with the older girls and good friends with the younger girls and Sloan was a great lead,” Glenn said. “He’s always smiling and always in a good mood. He exudes a great, positive attitude and everyone feeds off of that. I couldn’t ask for anyone better there to lead them.”
Wooten then powered Montgomery against Sullivan (4-2, 4-1), opening the bottom of the first by rushing to stretch a single into a lead-off double. Catcher Zoe Furman followed by slashing an RBI triple the opposite way and Madisyn Miller then hit an RBI single. An error brought in another run and, in the blink of an eye, Montgomery was up 3-0.
The Raiders kept their foot on the gas all afternoon, scoring in all but one of their six at-bats. Five players produced multiple hits, including Addi Cross who went 2 for 3 off the bench, adding three RBI. And as the runs piled up, Sullivan’s hopes of victory quickly faded as Wooten got stronger as the game wore on.
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Sloan Wooten of Montgomery throws in the first inning against Sullivan County Friday April 14, 2023 at Montgomery High School. Montgomery won 8-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
“Sloan made a great game,” Glenn said. “He kept them off balance.”
The senior right-hander induced weak contact throughout the game, feeding Sullivan a steady diet of fastballs and riseballs, while consistently hitting spots. Wooten threw 70% of his 94 pitches for strikes and was especially good in tight spots, forcing the Griffins to go 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position. .
Second baseman Brynn Fisher made a nice play on a sinking line drive to end the third inning and left fielder Addi Muhl made an excellent running catch an inning later. Wooten then began to dominate late and struck out the final four batters.
Wooten has worked hard all offseason preparing to pitch and it showed yesterday. He forced 19 swings and misses and struck out the side to close out a victory against a team that averaged 11.8 runs through the first five games.
“I know it’s a big change from last year, but I know we can hang with the crowd behind me,” Wooten said. “They know what to do.”
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Montgomery’s Addi Cross flies out to first base with one out against Sullivan County in the third inning Friday April 14, 2023 at Montgomery High School. Montgomery won 8-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
That includes offense. Montgomery only struck out twice and never looked to be a practice point of emphasis. Montgomery produced three hits in four different innings and went up 5-0 in the third when Miller and Muhl singled. Cross then highlighted the team’s depth, hitting a clutch two-out, two-run single.
Montgomery added a run in each of the last three at-bats. Summer Drick, Cross and Vallyn Ault all had RBIs in those innings. Ault hit a double and Cross, Drick, Wooten, Furman and Miller each had two hits.
“I think once a woman is hit she gains confidence and it’s like a domino effect,” Wooten said. “Each girl gained more confidence and we continued to grow from there.”
Sullivan threatened in the top of the first when Mariah Hallabuk hit a lead-off single and Amber Kelly added a single two batters later. Wooten, however, hit No. 2 and 4 hitters before Furman made a snap throw to Miller at third base to throw out the lead runner trying to steal.
Montgomery continued to play excellent defense in all areas from there. In fact, the Raiders excelled in all areas and played their most complete game of the season against a team that opened the season 4-0. Wooten is leading the way, the young players are growing and Montgomery is gaining confidence as it goes along.
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Montgomery’s Summer Drick flies out to first base with one out against Sullivan County in the first inning Friday April 14, 2023 at Montgomery High School. Montgomery won 8-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
“We were aggressive on the bases and we did a good job there, and we put some early on and that helped. You put a lead on the board and they’re already working from behind so I think that’s an advantage,” Glenn said. “We are getting better every day. Everything is playing well today and I couldn’t be happier.
Sullivan 000 000 0-0 3 3
Montgomery 302 111 x–8 13 0
Emilia Viverios and Mallory Dickinson. Sloan Wooten and Zoe Furman. W: Wooten. L: Viveiros.
Top Sullivan hitters: Ava Dunham 1-2, 2B; Mariah Hallabuk 1-3; Amber Kelly 1-3. Top Montgomery hitters: Wooten 2-4, 2B, run; Furman 2-3, 3B, RBI; Madisyn Miller 2-4, RBI, run; Summer Drick 2-4, RBI, 2 runs; Addi Cross 2-3, 3 RBIs; Vallyn Ault 1-2, 2B, RBI, run; Kailyn Woltz 1-1, 2 BBs, run; Addi Muhl 1-4, run.
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Vallyn Ault (22) and Falin Reynolds (14) of Montgomery celebrate after Ault scored against Sullivan County Friday April 14, 2023 at Montgomery High School. Montgomery won 8-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Records: Montgomery (4-3, 4-2 Mid-Penn), Sullivan (4-2, 4-1 Mid-Penn).