Kats Go 2-2 on Opening Weekend, Show Offensive Firepower on the Road

The Erie Community College Kats opened their season with a competitive four-game weekend, finishing 2-2 while flashing offensive depth, speed on the bases, and timely power at the plate.

Erie started strong with a 10-3 win over Prince George's. The Kats set the tone early, scoring twice in the first inning before stretching the lead to 5-1 in the second on a double from Noah Lapierre. Boyd Dela Vega and John Callahan helped extend the advantage in the third as Erie built a commanding cushion.

Nick Gold earned the win on the mound, while Xavier Beckstead delivered three innings of scoreless relief to secure the victory. Lapierre drove in three runs, Dela Vega led the way with two hits, and the Kats showed patience at the plate with eight walks. Erie also created pressure on the basepaths, swiping five bases, and played clean defensively without committing an error.

Later in the series, the Kats dropped a tough 7-6 decision in dramatic fashion despite holding a 5-1 lead midway through the game. Adam Scibetta provided a spark with a sacrifice fly and later a game-tying home run in the seventh. Jake Scibetta also homered as Erie continued to display power throughout the lineup. Layne Staubitz added two hits in the loss.

Erie bounced back with a 9-4 victory over West Chester, fueled by production from the bottom of the order. John Callahan collected three hits, while Nolan Nobile and Justin Refermat combined to drive in key runs. The Kats jumped out early and never looked back, adding four more runs in the third inning to create separation.

Rafael Smith earned the win, and Kayden Duncan was sharp out of the bullpen with four scoreless innings. Erie again put pressure on opposing defenses with five stolen bases in the win.

The weekend concluded with a 9-5 loss to Cecil despite the Kats outhitting their opponent eight to four. Erie struck first and showed resilience at the plate, with Zac Chrystian collecting two hits and two RBIs. However, a big fifth inning proved decisive.

Through four games, Erie demonstrated offensive balance throughout the lineup, aggressive baserunning, and the ability to build early leads. With contributions coming from both the top and bottom of the order and multiple arms logging quality innings, the Kats leave opening weekend with momentum and plenty to build on as the season continues.