Wilde Lake junior Josh Futter did not pitch much last year, as strained ligaments in his right elbow limited him to 19 innings. Whether the injury was the result of taking the mound too often as a freshman, problems with his mechanics or something else, he is unsure. But he is certain about one thing: Winning games takes the sting off last season’s 4-16 mark.

With Futter leading the way on the mound and first baseman Kevin Carlson starring at the plate, the host Wildecats pulled an early-season surprise, beating No. 4 Centennial, 4-3, yesterday in a Howard County game in Columbia. It was the Eagles’ first league loss since the 2005 season.

“This is probably one of the best feelings I can have,” Futter said a few minutes after hurling his glove into the air and being mobbed by teammates after a game-ending double play, the kind of celebration normally reserved for postseason victories.

Wilde Lake (2-1, 2-1) came within one victory of a state title in 2005, when Futter led a postseason run — pitching in all five playoff games — after the Wildecats won four games during the regular season. He became frustrated watching from the bench most of last season, but said rest cured his elbow and now he is back in the lineup, one of the county’s top pitchers.

With excellent movement on his fastball yesterday, Futter allowed six hits and struck out six. He also worked out of a handful of sticky situations, and Centennial (3-1, 3-1) left six runners in scoring position.

“He pitched a great game,” Eagles Coach Denis Ahearn said.

Wilde Lake managed only four hits, but Carlson had two. The 6-foot-5 left-hander had a run-scoring groundout in the first inning, then waited on a change-up and hit a solo home run to center field in the fourth. He added a leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth, and his pinch runner, Jason Smith, scored to make it 4-2 on a sacrifice fly by Tucker McConville. Centennial scored once in the seventh.

“He’s the best hitter that I’ve ever coached,” Coach Matt Forsyth said of Carlson. “When I throw to him in the cage inside, I’m scared to death. It’s almost dangerous. Just chuck, duck, get behind the screen and pray you don’t get hit.”

Wilde Lake 4 No. 4 Centennial 3 Solo Encore: With the game tied at 1 in the bottom of the fourth, Wilde Lake’s Kevin Carlson hit a solo homer to center and, one batter later, Chris Cole crushed a solo homer to left field for a 3-1 lead. Hark There: Centennial 3B Austin Harclerode, one of the area’s top players, went 2 for 3 with a double, a walk, three stolen bases and two runs. One run came on a successful delayed double steal.

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