SportzWire
2026 News
Hollidaysburg Powers Past Back Mountain 15-3 to Stay Alive in Little League Tournament

Hollidaysburg Powers Past Back Mountain 15-3 to Stay Alive in Little League Tournament

By: Carrie Miner Yaple | SportzWire | July 31, 2026 | Photo courtesy Jake Speicher

JENKINS TWP. — Facing elimination in the Boys Little League Tournament, Hollidaysburg erupted for 10 runs in the fourth inning, including two grand slams, to defeat Back Mountain 15-3 on Friday in Jenkins Township. The victory keeps Hollidaysburg's tournament hopes alive as it advances to face Eastside on Saturday.

The action was broadcast live on Sportzwire, with Tony Sibilla and Cody Brady on the call.

Back Mountain's lineup featured Ethan Wielgosz, Ollie Bross, Matthew Wycallis, Jack Katyl, Bruce Knowles, Jordan Rollins, Andrew Salko, Mac Hanson, Max Kovach, Parker Page, Isaac Tribendis and Brian Vinsko. Hollidaysburg countered with Zion Shubik, Blake Chamberlain, CJ Burger, Aiden Anderson, Trey Muth, Jace Dodson, Carter Bridenbaugh, Ronan Diehl, Sam Mikolajczyk, Kolton Wertz, Aiden Pavlik and Heath Hanlon.

Mac Hanson started on the mound for Back Mountain, while CJ Burger got the ball for Hollidaysburg.

First Inning

Burger couldn't have asked for a better start, retiring Back Mountain in order with a quick three-up, three-down top of the first.

Hollidaysburg wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Zion Shubik led off with a single before Blake Chamberlain was hit by a pitch. Burger then delivered the game's first big hit, ripping an RBI double to left-center to score Shubik for a 1-0 lead. Hanson settled down after the double, recording an out and striking out the final two batters of the inning to strand runners at second and third.

Despite escaping further damage, Back Mountain trailed 1-0 after one.

Second Inning

Burger continued to dominate in the second, retiring the heart of Back Mountain's lineup. Trey Muth recorded the first out before Burger struck out Bruce Knowles and finished the inning with another out.

Hollidaysburg's offense broke the game open in the bottom half.

Carter Bridenbaugh worked a leadoff walk before Ronan Diehl singled. Sam Mikolajczyk popped up to center for the first out, but Kolton Wertz followed with an RBI double. Aiden Pavlik then crushed a drive that narrowly missed leaving the yard, settling for an RBI double that stretched the lead to 3-0.

A wild pitch brought home another run before Heath Hanlon lifted a sacrifice fly to center, making it 5-0. Hanson prevented further damage when Shubik's deep drive to left-center was hauled in for the third out.

Hollidaysburg scored four runs in the inning to build a commanding five-run advantage.

Third Inning

Neither offense generated much momentum in the third.

Andrew Salko grounded out for Back Mountain, while Burger continued to keep the Mountain hitters off balance. Parker Page's hard-hit ball was snagged by the first baseman to end the inning.

Hollidaysburg managed only a two-out walk to Aiden Anderson but couldn't capitalize as the inning ended scoreless.

Fourth Inning

Back Mountain showed signs of life in the fourth.

Parker Page and Isaac Tribendis drew consecutive walks before Brian Vinsko reached on a single to right field, loading the bases with no outs. The bottom of the lineup had suddenly created a major scoring opportunity.

Ethan Wielgosz hit a ground ball to the infield, and although Holidaysburg recorded the force attempt at the plate, the ball was dropped on the play, allowing Back Mountain's first run to score while the bases remained loaded.

After a strikeout and a fly out to center, Jack Katyl was hit by a pitch to force in another run. Bruce Knowles followed with a bases-loaded walk, trimming the deficit to 5-3 before Jordan Rollins grounded out to end the rally.

Back Mountain had climbed back within two runs and appeared to have new life.

That momentum disappeared quickly.

Hollidaysburg answered immediately in the bottom of the fourth. A pair of line-drive singles put runners aboard before Sam Mikolajczyk delivered an RBI hit to make it 6-3. Wertz singled to load the bases, prompting Back Mountain to bring Bruce Knowles in from first base to the mound in relief.

The change couldn't slow the surge.

Aiden Pavlik lined an RBI single to extend the lead to 7-3, keeping the bases loaded. Moments later, Heath Hanlon worked the count full before blasting a grand slam deep over the right-field fence, breaking the game wide open at 11-3.

Hollidaysburg wasn't finished.

Shubik singled, Chamberlain followed with another base hit, and Burger drew a walk to once again load the bases. With the mercy-rule run standing just 60 feet away, Anderson stepped in and delivered the knockout blow—a towering grand slam to left field that capped a remarkable 10-run inning and ended the game by the mercy rule, 15-3.

The back-to-back grand slams highlighted one of the tournament's most explosive offensive innings and ended Back Mountain's tournament run.

Postgame Reaction

Anderson, whose grand slam ended the contest, said confidence never wavered.

"I just knew we were gonna come back and win."

Looking ahead to Saturday's matchup with Eastside, Anderson reflected on his previous experience against them.

"Eastside—I pitched against them and came back this game and tried to help out the team more."

He added with excitement:

"We're back in it! We got this!"

Burger, who set the tone on the mound before handing the ball over to Bridenbaugh, credited his approach in the circle.

"I was just thinking locate my pitches and throw my curveball."

Burger also spoke about the comfort of playing for his father.

"It's fun. It takes a lot of pressure off me—he's always there."

He praised the production throughout Hollidaysburg's lineup.

"I think the bottom of the lineup hit better than our top this game."

And with another game waiting Saturday, Burger kept the focus simple.

"It's special. We just hope to win tomorrow."

Hollidaysburg now advances to Saturday's elimination matchup against Eastside, while Back Mountain's tournament run comes to an end after a spirited fourth-inning comeback attempt was erased by an unforgettable offensive explosion.

*Photo by Justin Bradley*