Inside Lehigh Valley Softball: Week 1 Capsules

The season is upon us and already one week old. Already some classics have been played and there have been a few early eyebrow-raising upsets across the area. We take a look at many of the games this past week in the EPC, Colonial, and BCIAA.

Friday, 3/14:

• Jennika Doyle got her sophomore season off to a solid start, throwing a four-inning, ten strikeout no-hitter in the Timberwolves’ 20-0 victory over Executive Education. Offensively, she roped an inside the park homerun to center field, bringing in 3RBIs. Twenty walks were issued to ES North, as seven players all recorded at least one RBI.
• Parkland scored eight unanswered runs to blow a 6-6 game wide open against First Academy as part of the Trojans’ trip to Florida. Emma Kushner’s sharp grounder to third resulted in an error and scored Ami Patel, resulting in what would be the game-winning run. Only two of the runs allowed by Hunsberger were earned, as she struck out four along the way.
• Despite giving up 18 hits and nine earned runs, Delaney Young’s third strikeout of the game would be her most important as Southern Lehigh emerged the victor in a 10-9 battle with Pleasant Valley. Demi Lewis kicked off the game with a 3-run bomb to left as part of a five run first inning. Pleasant Valley came alive in the fourth inning. Trailing 6-0, the Bears put up seven runs on seven hits to take a 7-6 lead. Lila Padden countered with a 2-run homer. In the sixth, Pleasant Valley loaded the bases and a bases loaded walk to Allison Borger scored Brianca Pridham. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Brooke Davies and Lily Kelly hit back to back singles to put the Spartans ahead for good at 10-9. With the tying run on second base and two outs, Young got Lydia Borger swinging to secure the win.
• Skye Bui went 2-3 with 2RBIs, but Daniel Boone fell to Pottsgrove 12-2.
• Eighteen walks and ten errors doomed Antietam in a 26-10 loss to Delaware County Christian. The Mountaineers fell behind 21-1 before fighting back for some runs of their own. Antietam scored seven times in the bottom of the third, five of which came on bases loaded walks and passed balls.
• Brandywine Heights led Upper Perkiomen 4-2 heading to the bottom of the fifth, but surrendered seven runs in the half inning, ultimately falling 9-5. Jenna Crist and Kaitlyn Steventon each had 2-hit days and an RBI each.

Saturday, 3/15:

• Freedom flexed their muscle early, defeating Bangor 20-0. Payton Besecker, Maia D’Amico, Brooke Rummel, and Namelia Duro all went yard. The homeruns by Duro and Rummel each brought in three runs. Besecker went 3-3 with 5RBIs.
• Pen Argyl used a seven run first inning to blow by East Stroudsburg South 11-1. Grace Weaver, Ashlyn Oessenick, and Aubrey Dehart all had 2RBI afternoons, while Jillian Bradley threw a five inning three-hitter with six strikeouts.
• Daniel Boone suffered a second tough loss, falling 13-1 to Pottsville. Twelve of sixteen Tide players had at least one RBI. The Blazers were limited to three hits. Kaylee Henderson’s RBI single scored Lily Gonzalez.
• Bella Muth’s 2-RBI single in the top of the first gave Whitehall a 2-0 lead against WPIAL opponent North Hills. Four errors would be crucial, though, as North Hills scored the next nine runs on their way to a 9-2 win. Six of those runs would be unearned due to miscues in the field.
• Twenty-eight combined runs, 26 walks, 13 hits and 11 errors marked a 19-9 William Penn victory over Reading. Yolanda Velez crossed home plate three times, but Reading’s 9-7 lead slipped away in the bottom of the fourth. Chloe Diggs kicked off that half inning with an inside the park home run and William Penn ended the inning with a 10-9 lead. Seven runs were tacked on in the sixth to make the final margin a bit wider than much of the game was.
• Tulpehocken opened its season with a 10-3 defeat on the road at ELCO. A grand slam by Abby Hassler in the second inning broke things open early, and Justine Geyer added a solo shot in the next inning. Zoee White was a bright spot for the Trojans, knocking in all three runs as part of a 2-for-4 day. Unfortunately for Tulpehocken, they were struck out 15 times, 14 by Gabby Smith.

Monday, 3/17:

• Mari Eiswerth began her Green Hornets season with a three-inning no-hitter against Allentown Central Catholic. Emmaus would go on to win the game 15-0, bolstered by 4 RBIs from leadoff batter Taylor Hauver and three more from Abby Derr. Twelve Hornets walked and none struck out on the afternoon. Eiswerth struck out seven Vikettes.
• Whitehall pounded out 17 hits in their 19-0 victory at Patriots Park against Dieruff. Sixteen of those hits were singles. Amya Espinal went 2-for-2 with 3RBI and Corynn Troxell was 2-for-2 with two RBI.
• The Kutztown Cougars took a first inning 8-0 lead over North Schuylkill. However, they would not cruise to victory, as the Spartans fired back with eight runs of their own in the fourth. Sadie Berger and Flip Oldt both had early 2-run singles. The Cougars led 9-1 before the Spartans exploded for eight. Jordanna Frie hit a 3-run home run and Mallorie Croker led off the inning with a solo shot. Croker put North Schuylkill ahead in the sixth on an RBI single. Flip Oldt countered with a solo shot in the bottom of the inning, but Kutztown still trailed 11-10. Back-to-back errors in the bottom of the seventh allowed Kutztown to get two on. With two outs, Jade Fitzgerald walked on a full count to load the bases. Kourtney Dietrich dropped a ball into left field, which scored Gehris and Berger and walked it off for the Cougars.
• In recent years, both Executive Education and William Allen have struggled in softball. When the two got together, it would be the Raptors that had a big coming out party in a 23-8 victory. Five Raptors walked at least three times and 23 free passes were given overall. Nathalie Diaz was 3-for-3 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBIs. Emily Marcial walked four times and scored on all four trips around the bases.
• The Reading Red Knights walked 21 times and capitalized on three Antietam errors in a 22-7 three inning game. Reading players also swiped 12 bags on the afternoon. Leadoff batter Kellyn Paulino scored three times and racked up 3RBI. Janaya Lugo joined her with 3RBI. Kaitlyn Zeiber was 3-for-3 for the Mountaineers and scored three times.
• Fleetwood kicked off its season with a 9-0 victory on the road at Wyomissing. The bottom of the lineup was highly productive. Sophia Breidegam and Kathryn Neid combined to go 5-of-7 with five runs and 4RBI. Breidegam threw the complete game two-hitter, striking out 13.

Tuesday, 3/18:

• Northampton and Easton played an early-season classic lasting nearly three hours on Tuesday night. Northampton emerged victorious 9-5 in nine innings. Hannah Duerr produced the first run of the game on an RBI-single, scoring Josephine Siegfried. She then homered to center, putting the Konkrete Kids up 4-1. Easton was held in check until the Rovers rallied in the bottom of the seventh. Faith Zimmerman and Audrey Rinda led off with walks. Thalia Burns doubled home Zimmerman, putting two in scoring position. Cleanup batter Kaede Walsh was intentionally walked to load the bases. Anna Jones grounded back to 2nd base and the throw home was not in time, allowing Rinda to score. Zoe Betts tied the game on an RBI single up the middle. Ryley Gable struck out the next two with the bases still loaded to force extra innings. The teams exchanged a run each in the 8th and moved to the ninth. With the bases loaded and one out, Ro Echavarria singled into the hole at short, bringing in Siegfried. Mea Allison did the same, driving in Kiley Henritzy. Mikell Kulp got the Rovers in order in the bottom of the inning to give Northampton the victory. In the loss, Audrey Rinda struck out 14 batters.
• A pair of errors began the scoring for Liberty in the bottom of the fourth. Addison Sabo capped the scoring with a solo home run in the sixth for the Hurricanes’ 8-0 win over Bethlehem Catholic. Abbie Benner threw a complete game two-hitter and struck out six along the way. Maddie Bixler struck out 11 in her effort in the circle for the Golden Hawks.
• Oley Valley trailed Muhlenberg 4-2, but a seven run explosion in the third allowed the Lynx to survive a late rally by the Muhls for a 9-7 victory. Emma Ott tied the game at 4 on a 2RBI single into right field, scoring Taylor Schlegel and Brianna Garcia. Cheyenne Walsh doubled into right, scoring two more. With two outs in the top of the seventh, Jaela Eaton reached on an error and came around to score on a wild pitch. Kaylee Jablonski doubled and scored on a hit by Maddie Wentzel. Kenleigh Brill doubled up the middle to make the score 9-7, but the comeback was halted when Roselyn Hernandez grounded back to Ava Walters, who flipped to third for the final out.
• East Stroudsburg South got out to a 5-0 lead and held on for the 5-3 victory over Pocono Mountain West. Johanna Carey’s RBI double to right got the scoring going, bringing Joslynn Yurescko in. Carey would then score on a missed popup at third base. Emily Ehrhardt, from the 8-spot in the lineup, came away with two RBI singles. Sam Rider knocked in two runs in the seventh on a hit to left. With two in scoring position and two outs, Yurescko got Julia MacPhee swinging to end the threat and secure a win. In the loss, the Panthers walked eight times.
• Parkland moved to 2-0 on the young season with a 15-0 rout of William Allen. Allison Hunsberger threw a four inning no-hitter, striking out eight. The Trojans walked twelve times and did not strike out. Anna Belletieri hit a 2RBI triple to bring the score to 8-0 in the first. Two bases loaded walks in the second increased the lead to 10-0. Danica Clemmer’s 2RBI single to center brought in Chelsea Dietrick and Cheyanne Brawn to end the game in the mercy rule.
• The Blue Streaks of Manheim Township engineered just one run, but it was enough to defeat Exeter 1-0. Manheim threatened early in the third, getting the first two on with no outs, but a pickoff at first and and infield popup kept the game scoreless all the way to the seventh. May Castillo looped one into left field. She would go to second on a passed ball and be brought home by an Ellie Comerford hit to left. Alena Dinnini led off the home half of the inning with a single, but was caught stealing. The Eagles are still searching for their first run of the season after being shutout by Boyertown.
• The top of the order went to town for the Hawks, as Hamburg beat up on Governor Mifflin 20-4. Erica Gerner led the way with 5RBI, while both Norah Davey and Molly Krick both had four. Krick went 4-for-5 with a grand slam. Davey was 3-for-3 and scored five runs. Krick struck out seven in the circle.
• Brandywine Heights claimed an 18-0, three-inning win over Executive Education. Kaitlyn Steventon struck out eight in her one-hitter. Lizzie Tomaine was credited with an inside the park home run as part of her 3RBI day. Kamryn Henry went 3-of-4 with three runs scored and two batted in. The top seven in the Bullets lineup all scored at least twice.
• Pleasant Valley locked down a 12-1 victory over Saucon Valley, plating six runs in the top of the 7th to blow the game wide open. Bella Altemose led the way with a 3RBI performance, including a solo home run to center. Kailyn Getz struck out ten and gave up only four hits on the afternoon. Cassidy Ash had the lone RBI for Saucon Valley.

Wednesday, 3/19:

• A seven run third inning sparked Nazareth’s 10-0 shutout of Freedom. Gianna Perillo homered twice, racking up 4RBI and Alina Weaver also hit one beyond the fence, part of a 4-for-4 day at the plate for her. Natalie Chlros was also 4-of-4 and scored twice. Kylie Grove threw six innings of five-hit ball and struck out three. Perillo’s three-run shot in the first moved the score from 4-0 to 7-0. The game ended in the mercy rule following an error on the infield, allowing Chloros to score.
• The Southern Lehigh Spartans chipped away at Central Catholic all afternoon long, coming away with a 14-5 win. Torrey Ritter started things off with an inside the park home run to right. Southern Lehigh left the bases loaded in the first and loaded them again in the second. Isabelle Witt singled through the left side and scored Ritter and Isabella Germani. Southern Lehigh tacked on again as the first three walked in the fourth inning. Delaney Lewis hit a sac fly to score, allowing Germani to score. Lily Kelly then tripled in Witt and Ritter.
• Rachel Fisher tossed a one-hitter with five strikeouts, as Notre Dame Green Pond rolled over Jim Thorpe 17-0. Sydney and Addi Ryan combined for 9RBI. Sydney homered twice and Addi went deep once. Sydney’s deep bombs were both good for two runs. Addi’s was a 3-run shot to center that brought in the final runs of the game. Leadoff bat Hannah Lilly went 2/4, scoring three times and chasing home three more.
• In what was just a 1-0 game going to the fifth inning, Palmerton emerged with a 7-0 lopsided victory over Lehighton. Hailey Barry continued her mutli-sport success by knocking in fellow basketball standout Mikaila Pengelly in the second inning. Barry came around to score on a Tessa Sander double. Olivia Kalman had a 2/3 day with 2RBI. Lehighton got two on in the 3rd and 7th innings, but could not push any across, as Barry pithced the two-hitter and struck out six.
• Northwestern Lehigh began its quest to return to the state playoffs by knocking off rival Northern Lehigh 5-0. Abby Dunstan clobbered a ball out to left, scoring Rylee McGinley in the first inning. The teams would remain quiet from there into the sixth inning. The Bulldogs had two opportunities to strike back, but had a two-on one-out opportunity slip away in the second and fourth. Adalyn Reichard knocked in two runs in the sixth with a single up the middle, scoring Shelby Mitman and Lizzie Diehl. Dunstand tripled in the final run of the ballgame. Emma Freeman gave up just two hits and struck out 12.
• Karlye Teman became the all-time leading strikeout leader in school history, as Palisades dominated Wilson Area 10-1. Teman’s 14 Ks moved her to 815 on her career. She didn’t have a bad day at the dish either, crushing a 3-run home run to deep center, breaking open what was a 2-1 game at the time. Aubrey Boushell and Catie Russo both added two hits and each scored once.
• Jillian Bradley struck out 13, surrendering only three hits and no earned runs in Pen Argyl’s 7-3 victory over the Salisbury Falcons. Six of the first seven Falcons outs came via the strikeout, as only Pen Argyl had threatened through the first three innings. Following a double play in the top of the fourth, it looked like the teams were going to remain scoreless, but Angelina Beltran slapped a ball into right field that scored Rylee Sampson. Another two-out rally in the fifth broke a 1-1 tie. Bradley doubled up the middle to score Talia Curtolo, followed by a Grace Weaver RBI single. After two strikeouts to open the sixth, the Green Knights did it again. With the bases loaded on two walks and a hit, leadoff batter Madacyn Rivera cleared them on a triple to left, opening up the game and giving her squad the 6-1 lead.
• Four walks and an error contributed to a 6-run fifth inning for Pottsville, but Fleetwood was able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and win 7-6 in a game they once led 5-0. Only two Pottsville players had reached base prior to their fifth inning comeback. The top of the sixth, however, saw the Tigers load the bases with one out. Lainee Guldner placed a ball in right field, allowing Izzy Santangelo and Blair Rauenzahn to score. Pottsville responded by loading the bases in the bottom half of the inning, but Sophia Breidegam was able to get out of the inning unscathed. Peyton Trexler mirrored Culdner with a 3RBI day.
• Through two games, Governor Mifflin has allowed 45 runs. Two-time defending state champions Blue Mountain scored 25 in their 25-3 victory over the Mustangs. Fourteen of Blue Mountain’s seventeen hits produced at least a run. Courtney Cavadini had a 5RBI day, going 2-for-3. Three more RBIs came from Carla Boyer, Dashawna Vincent, and Emmerson Frie. Abby Brunelli had a third inning solo home run in defeat.
• The Muhls fell for the second time in as many days, as Red Lion mercy ruled Muhlenberg 15-0. Ava Missimer and and Kaylee Jablonski got the only two hits for Muhlenberg, as a nine run third inning blew the game wide open.
• The Reading Red Knights pounded Harrisburg 19-2, breaking through for 13 runs in the first inning. Yolanda Velez capped the scoring with a 3-run home run as part of her 4RBI day. She also added three stolen bases. Reading swiped 16 bases overall and walked eight times. Sonia Rodriguez went 1-for-2, scoring twice and knocking in two runs.
• Many in the BCIAA have Wilson West Lawn atop their projections for a potential league title winner. However, the opener between the Bulldogs and Cougars went the way of Kutztown, 4-3. West Lawn left ten runners on base, but did debut Shannon Bratton, who pitched 4.2 innings and struck out seven. Sadie Berger’s single into center scored Ava Kutz and Miranda Morstatt, as Kutztown built a 3-0 lead after two. After three home runs down in Myrtle Beach, Tatum Werley led off the fourth inning with a solo shot to left, cutting the Cougar lead to 3-1. Jade Fitzgerald had the game-winning hit, singling up the middle and bringing in Berger. You can listen to the broadcast of this game on the Eastern PA Sports Network.
• Schuylkill Valley took it to Daniel Boone in a 15-1 rout. Ella Martin had herself a day, going 3-for-3 scoring three times and amassing 4RBI. Gabby Leone and Haleigh Eisenhower both added 3RBI; Eisenhower recorded her RBIs without a hit.
• Many have wondered how Berks Catholic will rebound from the graduation of all-star pitcher Danny Hayward. The Saints opened their season falling to Lampeter-Strasburg 7-0. Olivia Harwi, transfer from Fleetwood, got two hits, while Sophia Bradley added three. However, Berks Catholic could not push any runs across. Despite striking out eight, Gianna Mirenda was tagged for eight hits and three earned runs. Three errors also contributed to the L-S scoring. Natalie Hill threw a complete game, allowing six hits and striking out seven.
• Oley Valley moved to 2-0 with an 8-6 win over York Suburban. After a first innning three-run home run from Sara Lim and a 2-run shot from Naomi Carrasquillo, the Lynx trailed 5-1 and had their work cut out. Cheyenne Walsh and Ava Walters each singled in a run in the fourth, cutting the deficit to 6-4. From the bottom of the lineup, Emma Ott doubled home two runs, tying the game at six after five innings. With another hit and a bases loaded walk, the Lynx got back in front 8-6. A 5-4-3 double play helped stop any threat of a comeback by York Suburban. In the circle, Taylor Schlegel struck out 13 despite also walking six and being charged with with all six earned runs.
• Wyomissing pulled off a similar comeback victory to Oley Valley, getting by Pottsgrove 7-6 after trailing 5-0. Taylor Watts tripled home Kyla Lytle to get the Spartans on the board in the second. Lytle would then tie the game at five when she tripled to right, bringing home Pearl Caldwell as part of a four run third. Pottsgrove added a run in the seventh after trailing 7-5, but the final out was recorded at third base. Kylie Schoedler struck out ten. No Spartan got more than one RBI and only three had more than one hit.
• Briana Pridham had another big effort for Pleasant Valley in a 15-0 drubbing of East Stroudsburg North. Pridham went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and 4RBI. Lydia Borger added 3RBI. Kailyn Getz pitched an eight strikeout no-hitter against the Timberwolves.

Thursday, 3/20:

• Easton fell behind Central Catholic 1-0 before scoring the next 13 unanswered for the win. Gianna Mencola was aggressive on the bases; after reaching on a dropped third strike, she stole second and moved up on a passed ball. She came around to score on another passed ball and the Vikettes led 1-0 after two. After tying the game up, Easton went on a two-out rally in the third. Thalia Burns singled through the middle, scoring Gabby Orsato and Faith Zimmerman. Anna Jones stroked one into left which was misplayed, clearing the bases and giving the Rovers a 6-1 lead. In the fourth, it was similar–Kaede Walsh hit one into left and, with an error, the bases were once again cleared. Audrey Rinda threw a no-hitter, striking out 13 Vikettes.
• Bethlehem Catholic rolled over William Allen 18-2. The Hawks compiled 18 hits and walked 16 times. Madi Bixler walked four times and came around to score each time. Sarah Banko was 2-for-3 with 4RBI. Both Morgan Ostrosky and Mikaila Brooks batted in two runs.
• Pocono Mountain West won a back-and-forth affair over East Stroudsburg North 9-7. Chloe Straub kicked things off with a 2-run bomb to center. The Panthers. Julia MacPhee knocked in two runs in the next inning, scoring Straub and Riley Evans. Jennika Doyle scored on a passed ball in the third inning to cut the Timberwolves’ deficit to 6-3. The Panthers took an 8-3 lead into the fifth and held their lead the rest of the way. Julia MacPhee was 3-for-4 with 3RBI and she struck out nine in the circle. Jaylean Marcoux and Doyle both had 2RBI days for the Timberwolves.
• Stroudsburg poured it on early and often in their season opening 9-0 victory over East Stroudsburg South. Isabella Thomas tripled in the first inning to knock in Melissa Safin and cap a four run inning. Elizabeth Molinaro, Madi Perez and Elena Trotter each singled in a run in the third inning as the Mountaineers built their nine run lead. Eight players accounted for the nine RBIs on the afternoon. Jordan Cook held the Cavaliers to four hits and struck out five while walking only one.
• Emmaus raised eyebrows around the EPC with their 7-6 stunner over league favorite Nazareth. Despite surrendering three home runs, the Green Hornets emerged victorious after taking the early lead. An error, walk, and hit by pitch allowed the Hornets to load the bases in the first inning. Mari Eiswerth walked on four pitches to force in Taylor Hauver. Sophia Tranguch and Avery Shank, newcomers to the roster this season, knocked in two more runs and built the 3-0 lead. Emmaus loaded the bases again in the third, but a Sadie Haefeli flyout to shallow left was caught to end the threat. Nazareth responded in the fourth inning when Taylor Friel doubled home Shauna McNamee. Emma Infantino grounded out 6-3, but Friel scored. Abby Derr cranked a home run to left to leadoff the bottom of the fourth, extending Emmaus’ lead to 4-2. From the nine-hole in the lineup, Gianna Perillo hit her own solo shot to open the fifth inning, bringing the Blue Eagles within 4-3. Emmaus added theee runs in their half of the fifth, putting the Hornets in the drivers seat, leading 7-3. Taylor Friel homered in the sixth, bringing Natalie Chloros along home with her. McNamee launched one to center field in the seventh, cutting the Emmaus lead to 7-6. With two outs, Nazareth got the next two on but Shank canned a flyball in left off the bat of Friel to put the game to bed once and for all. Emmaus had balanced hitting and scoring all around, as seven different players accounted for all 7 runs batted in. In the loss, Avery Kauffman recorded her 200th strikeout.
• Freedom shutout Parkland 3-0 in a battle of top EPC squads. Neither side really threatened through the first four innings. In the top of the fifth, Brooklyn Pronovich led off with a walk. She was replaced on first base by Alyssa Laubach when Laubach hit into a fielder’s choice. Sara Gonzalez reached on an error at first base, putting two on with one out. Daniel Guzzo singled home Laubach with a hit into right. Guzzo brought in Gonzalez in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 3-0. Namelia Duro kept Parkland in check all game long, giving up two hits and striking out five.
• A final turn at-bat rally moved Liberty to 2-0 on the young year and eked them past Whitehall 6-5. Zephyrs’ cleanup htiter Bella Muth grounded out in the first inning, bringing in Aryanna Donlon. In the third, Muth doubled up the middle, scoring Donlon and Josie Shultz. Whitehall took a 4-0 lead to the fifth inning, where Liberty first struck. Sophia Rivera flew a ball into center field that doubled in Ella Quayle and AnnMarie Stella. An innocent 1-out seventh inning walk to Ava Tomac seemed innocuous. She remained at first with two outs and Whitehall leading 5-2. However, Addison Sabo deposited a ball over the fence in right field to cut the deficit to 5-4. Addy Smith then singled and Leah Onia hit one out to right field to complete the comeback and put Liberty ahead.
• Pleasant Valley started out strong, but two early runs would not hold up as Pocono Mountain East emerged victorious 3-2. Lydia Borger and Brianca Pridham both grounded out with the bases loaded to bring in the first two runs of the game in the top of the first. The Cardinals responded in the bottom half of the inning, with Karlie Jurasits groundout that scored Brianne Smith. Jurasits would tie the game in the third, doubling to left andb ringing in Smith once again. A double play wiped out a two-on one-out situation for the Bears in the fifth. The Cardinals got their first two batters on in the bottom of the sixth, but Kailyn Getz struck out two and the teams ultimately headed to extra innings knotted at 2. In the bottom of the ninth, Lauren McClain and Catherine Besecker struck out and popped out respectively. Then, Brianne Smith singled to center and thee pitches later came around to score on a ball laced into center by Emily Dubisz. In defeat, Getz struck out 13.
• Molly Krick’s 3-run first inning home run started the scoring barrage in Hamburg’s 15-0 win at Octorara Area. Two walks would be the only baserunners for Octorara, as the Hawks piled on. Jenna Shuman and Amelia Gassert both went 3-for-4. Gassert scored four times and each knocked in a run. Norah Davey and Erica Gerner eachec chased home two runs.
• Berks Catholic struggled in their second game of the season, falling to Northern York 10-1. Despite 11 hits, the Saints manufactured just the one run and fell behind early 8-0. In the first inning, both Izzy Hobby hit a solo shot and Trinity Artman tacked on a 3-run shot. Sophia Bradley had a 2-for-4 day and scored the lone Saints run.

Friday, 3/21:

• The Hamburg Hawks moved to 2-0 with a 9-5 win over Tamaqua in nonconference play. It was nip-and-tuck for the first few innings. Molly Krick faced a bases loaded no-outs situation and a walk forced in the first run for Tamaqua. She would strikeout one and induce a liner and groundout to get out of further trouble. She helped her own cause in the bottom of the inning, tying the game on her 2-out RBI single to right. A 2-out bases loaded walk in the third put Hamburg in front, as Kaida Chawtek trotted in. Chawtek brough Krick in on a grounder up the middle in the fourth, giving Hamburg a 4-2 lead. Mikayla Davis broke a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI double to right. The top of the lineup then piled on, as Amelia Gassert doubled and Norah Davey tripled to finally get Hamburg the comfortable 8-5 lead. A 1-3-2 double play in the sixth ended one final rally bid by the Blue Raiders.
• Emmaus traveled to two-time defending state champion Blue Mountain for an early season non-conference battle. The Green Hornets came away with a 4-2 victory. Sadie Haefeli banged a 2-run shot out to left in the first inning, putting Emmaus on top early. Emmaus led 3-0 until Blue Mountain finally broke through in the fifth on a solo shot from Emmerson Frie. Avery DeFanti provided a crucial insurance run in the seventh, singling to left and scoring Haefeli, her second RBI of the afternoon. Mari Eiswerth continued to dazzle early, striking out seven and walking none in seven innings of work. She allowed six hits to the Blue Eagles.
• Southern Lehigh blitzed Catasauqua 18-0 on their way to a 3-0 record. Lila Padden cleared the bases on a 3-RBI double in the first inning and knocked in two more in her second at bat. Delaney Young and Hailey Schumaker combined for a no-hitter, walking two and fanning eight.
• Wilson Area rebounded from their Thursday loss by dropping 20 runs on Jim Thorpe in a 20-9 win. The Warriors took a 6-0 first inning lead in which ten batters came to the plate. Aby Colon got two hits in the inning, including a 2-RBI single. Jim Thorpe came back with two home runs in the bottom of the inning. Mara Levens sent one out to deep center for three runs, followed by a 2-run bomb from Gloria Strohl to right. Colon would go on to have a 4RBI day, along with Ana Shmitt. The Warriors scored eight in the fourth to pull away for good, leading 17-6. Both Tessa Fredericks and Madi Schwartz struck out ten batters, despite allowing a combined 26 hits and 18 earned runs. Mara Levins had 5RBI for the Olympians in defeat.
• Notre Dame Green Pond dropped an unfathomable 28 runs on Lehighton in a 28-4 rout. The Crusaders pounded out 27 hits. All 14 runs scored in the second inning came with two outs, as well. Both Addison Ryan and Claire Ceraul went 4-for-5 with 4 runs scored and 5 runs batted in. Natalie Lilly knocked in four runs and was 3-for-4 at the plate, scoring three runs. Amber Yeakel had a 3-for-3 day at the dish for Lehighton and Ava Trach had 2RBI.
• Hailey Mandala drove home the first three runs in Nazareth’s 7-1 victory over Northwestern Lehigh. Lily Moretti, Natalie Chloros, and Shauna McNamee were chased home on Mandala’s first inning double. McNamee drove in two more with two outs in the second, putting the Blue Eagles in full control 5-0. While the Tigers had seven hits, they were spread out such that there was never a huge threat or stringing them together. Emma Freeman walked five and fanned nine in the loss, while Kylie Grover walked one and struck out five.
• Fresh off a big win over Wilson West Lawn, Kutztown faced off on the road at EPC foe Northampton. The Konkrete Kids prevailed in a close one, 11-8. Kourtney Dietrich got things started for the Cougars, placing a ball in center field to bring in Sadie Berger and Jayden Gehris. Kutztown had loaded the bases with three walks. Brianna Bauscher doubled to right to bring in Jade Fitzgerald and put Kutztown up 3-0 out of the gate. Three errors would lead to the first three runs for Northampton. After one full inning, Northampton led 5-3. Avery Deibert provided the first real separation for Northampton via her 2-run home run to center, scoring Hannah Duerr. Duerr would later lead off the sixth inning with a solo shot of her own. Deibert finished her day 3-of-4 at the dish with 3RBI. Kiley Henritzy added two more. For Kutztown, both Flip Oldt and Dietrich had 2RBI.
• Despite 16 strikeouts by Karlye Teman, giving her 831 for her career at Palisades, Pen Argyl led the Pirates 5-0 before ultimately losing 7-6. Ashlyn Oessenick hit a 3-run home run to get the Green Knights to that early lead. Aubrey Boushell got the Pirates going with a 2RBI single. Catie Russo supplied the game winning run on a 3-run shot over the fence in center, bringing in Jordyn Bonelli and Fiona Kelleher. Teaman struck out the final two batters she faced in the seventh, capping a 151 pitch outing.
• Reading fell to Lebanon 15-8 in non-league play. A four run second inning put Lebanon up 5-0 and in control for most of the game. A couple of passed balls allowed Yolanada Velez and Jesinette Valasquez score and cut the deficit to 5-3. Reading loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth, but only managed a run when Gabriella Quijano scored on another passed ball. Kellyn Paulino hit a solo inside the park home run to deep center field in the fifth, but the Knights still trailed by four runs. Rayven Soliday’s 3-run home run in the sixth with two outs extended Lebanon’s lead to 13-6. Fourteen Red Knights struck out.
• A home run barrage by ELCO doomed Conrad-Weiser in a 12-7 loss. The Scouts took an early 4-0 lead, as Madi Derfler, Skylir Berger, and Aleena Martino all had RBI triples over the first two innings. Abby Ruth had ELCO’s first home run, a 3-run long ball to cut the deficit to 4-3. Gabby Smith was next with a leadoff bomb in the third to tie the score. Smith went yard again in the fourth, putting ELCO ahead 9-5. Abby Hassler put one over the fence in the sixth to score the final two runs of the day. Hassler and Smith struck out 15 Scouts.
• The Oley Valley Lynx moved to 3-0 in style with a 15-5 win over Pequea Valley. A seven run fifth inning ended the game in the mercy rule. Three of the first four Lynx runs scored on two errors by Pequea. Emma Ott, Taylor Schlegel and Brianna Garcia were the early beneficiaries. Schlegel broke a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the second, doubling to right and bringing in Garcia and Cora Nash. Ava Walters would end the game by taking a walk on five pitches to force in Emma DeBalko. Walters, Schlegel, Ott, Anaya Brown, and Stella Williamson all fininished with 2RBI.
• Tulpehocken fell to 1-2 and mustered only two hits in a 12-1 loss to Annville-Cleona. Gabby Kraatz scored the lone run and had a 1-of-2 day at the dish.
• Brandywine Heights scored six runs in their first turn at bat before an out was recorded. Allyssa Bortz and Kamryn Henry both scored on passed balls, as did Jenna Crist and Lizzie Tomaine. After two more came in on balls that got away, Bortz hit a sac fly to center. Yet another passed ball brought in the eighth run and two more scored for a ten run first inning. The Bullets shot eight more runs onto the scoreboard in the second. When all was said and done, Henry and Crist each had 3RBI and 14 players had walked.
• Muhlenberg was humbled at the hands of Boiling Springs 20-3. Gabrielle Vonstein had a 5RBI day for Boiling Springs. Ten Bubblers walked, including four for Delaney Lawyer. Brooke Wirth had a 2-RBI hit for the Muhls.

Saturday, 3/22:

• Saucon Valley evened its record at 1-1 via a 10-8 win over Bangor. Saucon Valley broke out to a 9-1 lead midway through the game and had to hang on, surviving a five run fifth from the Slaters. Ryan Gall went 3-for-4 on her day. Savannah Schlegel and Rowan Best each knocked in two runs. Matty Seyfried struck out 12 and hung on, despite allowing a late home run that pulled Bangor within 9-8. Saucon’s third inning rally included four runs scored all with two outs.
• North Pocono built a 7-0 lead on their way to defeating East Stroudsburg South 8-4. Two bases loaded walks and an error at second base gave the Timberwolves three runs in the fifth. Joey Cappa went 4 for 4 at the plate. Joslynn Yurescko went 3 for 4 with a triple.
• Freedom used a five run fifth inning to break a 2-2 deadlock with Pen Argyl, ultimately emerging victorious 8-2. Brooke Rummel’s two-run home run in the second inning put the Patriots up 2-1 early. Hannah Heidemann put one beyond the fence in left with two outs in the fourth to increase the lead to 6-2. She was followed immediately by Namelia Duro’s solo shot to center. Rummel had a 4RBI afternoon. Duro finished off seven innings in just 75 pitches, giving up three hits, striking out five Green Knights and walking none. Jillian Bradley struck out eight Patriots in the loss.
• Twelve straight batters reached base for the Salisbury Falcons in an 11-run second inning that followed their 10-run first inning against Dieruff. Salisbury took the 21-2 victory at Patriots Park. Zaira Stokes was 4-for-4 with 3 runs and 5RBI. Both Gianna Olds and Sydney Foulke added 4RBI and Taylor Wagner added three hits. Jenna Swoyer struck out seven Huskies over the three inning mercy rule shortened game.
• Parkland fell to Valley View 10-0. surrendering a six run sixth inning to the Cougars. The Trojans loaded the bases in their half of the first, but wer unable to push a run across. Maria Moore had two of the five Parkland hits. Only two Cougars struck out.
• In just three games, Governor Mifflin has now been outscored 66-14. Pottsville was the latest winner over the Mustangs, 21-4. Abby Brunelli had 4RBI for the Mustangs off of three hits. She, Gabby Barto, and Olivia Grosch all scored twice. However, Mifflin trailed 12-0 before getting on the board.
• Ava Legath hit a two-run home run, but Wilson fell to Owen J Roberts 11-4 and fell to 0-2 on the season. Tatum Werley continued a hot start to the year, going 2-of-4 and knocking in a run. Legath accounted for the other three runs batted in. Maddie Reed for OJR struck out Wilson batters ten times.
• Schuylkill Valley moved to 2-0 with a 9-5 win over the Conrad-Weiser Scouts. The Panthers untied a 2-2 game in the fifth by loading the bases with no outs. Kylie Gunter singled to right, driving in Taryn Rittenhouse. On Ella Martin’s single into left, Brooke Angstadt was thrown out trying to score behind Kori McGonigle. Gabby Leone drove in Gunter. Gunter and Martin each had big hits again in the sixth, both with two outs, that pushed the lead to 9-4. Conrad-Weiser pitching was only able to strike out one batter.
• Wyomissing won their second consecutive game, 7-5 over Susquehannock. The Spartans built a 4-0 lead through two innings. Along the way, Ellie George drove in two on a flyball that dropped into right field. Susquehannock used small ball to score their first two runs and cut the deficit, but Wyomissing manufactured three more in the third to break it open 7-2. Taylor Watts drove in Kyla Lytle and a Liliana Stanco sac bunt brought in Kylie Schoedler to complete the rally.