Inside Lehigh Valley Softball: Week 6 Digest

Monday, 4/21:

• Wilson West Lawn kept their winning ways going strong, dismantling Muhlenberg 15-0. A nine run first inning was spurred along by a Madi Marrell 2-run shot to left. Caitlin Figarola kept the scoring going with a bases clearing double. Maddy Snyder ended the game in the mercy rule when her single up the middle scored Ava Sensenig and Jadyn Etchberger. Rylea Fick brought in three runs, matching Figarola and Farrell. Shannon Bratton struck out eight in her shortened no-hitter.
• Bangor kicked off a 3-0 week with a 16-0 drubbing of Catasauqua. The Slaters’ fifth victory saw them score four in the first inning and scoring lopsided numbers across the four inning mercy rule contest. Kelli Snow racked up 5RBI, while Emma Christie added three on a 4-for-4 day. The Slaters pounded out 19 hits, while Madalyn Giera threw a one hitter and struck out five.
• Northwestern Lehigh moved to 12-1 on a 5-0 victory at Pen Argyl. Shelby Mitman smashed a triple to center field in the first inning, allowing three runs to come home early. Emma Freeman gave up two hits and fanned nine. The Green Knights got two on in the sixth with one out, but a strikeout ended the ballgame, moving the Tigers’ win streak to eleven straight.
• Hailey Schumaker’s 4RBI effort led the Southern Lehigh Spartans to a 15-0 run-rule win over Jim Thorpe. Brooke Davies and Demi Lewis each batted in three more. An error in right field in the first inning allowed three runs to score, capping an early 8-0 Spartans lead. Delaney Young only struck out two, but she did not allow a hit over three innings of work. The victory cements a playoff berth in the 5A field for Southern Lehigh
• Six runs in the fourth inning allowed Brandywine Heights to pull away in their 9-2 home victory over Oley Valley. All of those runs came across with two outs. Schuster cleared the bases with a 3RBI triple and came home on a Lizzie Tomaine hit. A bases loaded hit by pitch seemed to spark the Lynx in their half of the sixth, but it would be the only run they tacked on in defeat. Kaitlyn Steventon fanned five and walked none in a seven inning four-hitter.
• William Allen loaded the bases twice, and once with no outs. However, they would fall to Central Catholic 12-1 and left ten on base. Gianna Menecola started the scoring with a 3-run inside the park homer to right field. She finished with a 5RBI day. Despite walking nine, Jenna Dalrymple struck out 15 and allowed no hits over five innings of work.
• A back-and-forth affair between the Golden Hawks and Bears went the way of Bethlehem Catholic, 7-6. Maddie Abbatiello doubled in the third inning, driving in Brianca Pridham and giving Pleasant Valley a 3-1 lead. Danaka Seifert’s single and a pitch worn by Sarah Gowell tied the game up at 3 after as many innings. Pridham singled up the middle in the sixth, knocking in two runs and putting PV back up 6-3, but the first five Hawks reached in the bottom of the inning. Sarah Banko brought home two runs, singling to left, and Beca took a 7-6 lead on a hit by Angela Hodge. Pleasant Valley got the tying run on base to leadoff their seventh and moved Abbatiello into scoring position. However, Allison Borger struck out and Renee Frable fouled out down the third base line to end the game.
• A first inning passed ball that scored Alyssa Adrover would lead to one of just two baserunners for East Stroudsburg North scoring in a 9-1 loss to Easton. Audrey Rinda pitched the first six innings of the combined no-hitter with teammate Gianna Koch. Rinda struck out 12 and Koch fanned two more in her eight pitches. Rinda also smacked a 2-run home run along the way. Anna Jones closed the scoring with a solo home run. Thalis Burns also had 2RBI, matching Jones and Rinda.
• Schuylkill Valley went on the road to District 3 3A undefeated Susquenita, falling 13-2. Brooke Andrews hit a 2-run home run to cut into a 6-0 Susquenita lead, but Schuylkill Valley would score no more. The Panthers were pummeled over the final two winnings, as Susquenita put the game in the run rule when Brinleigh Richards socked a 3-run shot to left. Ayahna Fleisher also homered in the sixth and threw a two-hitter, fanning eight.
• Liberty overcame an early 2-1 deficit, scoring five in the fourth and pulling away for an 8-4 win over East Stroudsburg South. Leah Onia’s liner into left provided the game-winning RBI. Kritzie Diaz-Rivera finished with 3RBI. The loss deals a significant blow to the Cavaliers’ playoff hopes, falling to 6-9. Liberty remains in the second spot, behind only Nazareth.
• Whitehall completed an improbable comeback. stealing one from Emmaus with six runs in the seventh inning to win 8-7. The Hornets piled on early, building a 5-0 lead on an Abby Derr 2-run double to center. She would sacrifice in the fourth to extend the lead to 6-2. The bottom of the seventh started innocently enough, as Josie Shultz led off with a single. Aryanna Donlon brought her home with an RBI bunt to third base. Amya Espinal’s 1-out RBI double kept the rally going and inched the Zephyrs to within 7-4. Paige Tacker got her squad within 7-6 on a 2-RBI triple With the game tied and 2 outs in the inning, Jules Muth lined a ball into left that scored Molly McFetridge and completed the comeback victory.
• Freedom snapped a two-game losing streak by blasting Stroudsburg 13-3. Siara Gonzalez knocked in five runs on three hits. Payton Besecker and Bailey Barber each brought home two more. Namelia Duro only needed 69 pitches to get through six innings, striking out two and giving up six hits and all three earned runs.
• Behind a two-hitter from Alison Hunsberger, Parkland took care of business at Patriots Park, winning 15-0 over Dieruff. Maria Moore had herself a day, going 3-for-3, scoring three times and bringing home five runs. Fifteen batters came to the plate in a ten run second inning for the Trojans and seven scored with two outs. With a 6-6 record, Parkland is one step closer to making the District XI 6A postseason.
• Nazareth remained atop the 6A power rankings with a 6-1 victory over Pocono Mountain West. An odd sequence with two errors on a steal attempt led to the first run of the game. Lily Moretti stole second and moved to third on a drop by the shortstop. As she headed for third, the ball was thrown away and Moretti came around to score. Another error on the base paths extended the lead to 2-0 after four. Moretti would score again on a passed ball. Gianna Perillo’s 2RBI triple to right provided the first runs scored off of a batted ball. Natalie Chloros provided the other RBI when she singled in Perillo. Avery Kauffman got 14 Panthers to strikeout and allowed only three hits. All in all, five errors were the undoing for PM West.
• Fresh off a 22-20 win over Reading, the Blazers of Daniel Boone made it two in a row, rolling over Antietam 18-3. Both Kaylee Henderson and Vanessa Eardley batted in three runs, part of 13 hits racked up by Boone. Skye Bui and Tirzah Fekelman each touched home plate three times.
• Karlye Teman struck out 11 more in her latest effort, a one-hitter pitched against Lehighton. Palisades won 14-0, led by 4RBI from Catie Russo. Two of those came on a third inning 2RBI single up the middle. Only five Indians reached base, as Lehighton never mounted a comeback threat.

Tuesday, 4/22:

• For the fifth time in seven outings, Notre Dame Green Pond took an L, falling this time to Bethlehem Catholic 11-5. A mistake pitch to Mikaila Brooks, also a stud on the basketball court, resulted in a 3-run home run in the first inning and quick 4-0 Hawks lead. The Crusaders held the fort for a while and even managed to tie the game up on a Natalie Lilly 2RBI triple to right in the fifth. However, two walks and a single loaded the bases with Golden Hawks in the sixth. Sarah Banko took a first pitch over the left field fence for a grand slam and 8-4 lead. In the circle, Maddie Bixler struck out eight and walked only one in her complete game effort. Rachel Fisher was charged with eight earned runs in the loss. All ten RBI for Bethlehem Catholic came from the heart of the batting order–Banko, Brooks and three from Isabella Borsuk.
• Bella Muth capped a Zephyrs’ 18-2 victory over East Stroudsburg North with a 3-run shot to deep center. Six Whitehall runs scored on wild pitches or passed balls. Jillian Pagan and Jules Muth combined to fan nine and walk four in the four inning run-rule shortened contest. The Zephyrs continued to make a playoff push with their third win in a row. Bella Muth finished her day with 5RBI and Nya Brown batted in three more.
• Liberty pushed its win streak to three in a row and dealt Easton a significant playoff blow via a 9-2 win. Over the first four innings, the Hurricanes only pushed across two runs. In the bottom of the fourth, Easton got two into scoring position with one out. Addy Smith responded by striking out the next two to thwart the Red Rovers comeback try. She then provided separation with an RBI single in the fifth, moving the lead to 3-0. Leah Onia doubled back up the middle to push the lead to 4-0. Down 9-2, Easton loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Zoe Betts grounded back to Smith who tossed home for the force and onto first for the game ending double play. Smith and Onia accounted for 5 runs batted in and a combined six hits. Smith struck out eight and walked four, giving up six hits. In the loss, Audrey Rinda struck out 11.
• A three-run fifth inning catapulted Northwestern Lehigh to a 4-1 victory over Schuylkill League foe Jim Thorpe. Despite the 2-12 record, the Olympians played the Tigers tough throughout. With a 1-1 tie headed to the bottom of the fifth, Northwestern had a challenge on its hands. Two leadoff walks to Natalie Conner and Shelby Mitman would prove deadly, though. After Adalyn Reichard singled, the bases were loaded. Lily Kinnon then walked on four consecutive pitches out of the zone to put the Tigers ahead 2-1. Molly Schlofer put a ball in play , and while a runner was cut down at third, Mitman scored to extend the lead to 3-1. Rylee McGinley, from her leadoff spot in the lineup, then doubled to left to bring home Kinnon. Lizzie Diehl struck out three of the final six she faced, retiring the Olympians in order over their final two turns at bat. On the day, she fanned 13. Northwestern Lehigh remains squarely in first place in the District XI 4A power rankings.
• Saucon Valley picked up its second straight win, 15-0 over Lehighton. Matty Seyfried struck out 12 Indians and brought in two runs on a 2-of-4 day at the dish. The victory keeps the Panthers’ slim playoff hopes in the 4A field alive.
• Palisades continued to pile up the wins at the right time, blowing away Palmerton 11-4. A seven run fifth inning shattered any dreams that the Bombers had of coming back from a slim 3-2 deficit. All of those runs came after two very quick outs recorded on just five pitches. A hard hit groundball to third by Teman resulted in an error and two runs coming home to score. A wild pitch and infield error extended the lead to an insurmountable 9-2. The Blue Bombers loaded the bases in the seventh, but Teman got Maddie Thomas to strike out to put the game to bed. Teman walked seven and allowed five hits, but still struck out 12.
• Pen Argyl had a field day with Wilson Area, rolling to a 17-0 win. Jill Bradley threw a one-hitter, striking out 12 and walking just one. Abby Scherer accounted for 4RBI and three more came from Grace Weaver. The win snapped a two game losing streak and gets the Green Knights back on track after falling to Northwestern Lehigh.
• A wild final two innings marked a tremendous win for Wyomissing, 10-8 over Conrad Weiser in BCIAA play. The Spartans led 5-1 in the sixth, nickel and diming the Scouts with a run scored in five of the frames to that point. Kyla Lytle provided a solo home run along the way. The Scouts had stranded five heading to their half of the sixth. A leadoff triple by Alex Trevena allowed Madi Derfler to score her on a groundout back to first. Aleena Martino struck out two batters later for the second out. Madelyn Ciemiewicz hit a ball to third base that was misplayed, allowing the inning to continue as Lily McPherson crossed the plate to make it a 5-3 deficit. Alexis Hartman tied the game up with a 2-run single on a flyball to right. Skylir Berger put the Scouts up 7-5, homering to left. In the top of the seventh, Addison Lecher wore a pitch to lead things off. Kyla Lytle was intentionally walked with no outs to load the bases and Taylor Watts made the Scouts pay, scorching a triple into right that cleared the bases and put the Spartans ahead 8-7. Pearl Caldwell finished off the inning with a solo home run that extended the lead to 10-7. Despite two leadoff hits in the bottom of the inning for Conrad Weiser by Derfler and Trevena, Macy Snyder grounded back to Kylie Schoedler to end the game. Taylor Watts went 4-for-4 with 4RBI, scoring twice.
• Billed on paper as one of the best matchups of the year to date in the BCIAA, Wilson West Lawn and Twin Valley met for a battle of the top two teams in the league. Madi Farrell provided early offense for the Bulldogs, splitting the gap in right-center for an RBI triple in the first. Following a walk to Ava Futrick, Leah Berkis singled home Farrell for the early 2-0 lead. Chants of “Madi got a Big Mac” rang out in the third after Farrell went deep to left on a solo home run. Kaya Werley followed that up with a 2RBI shot over the fence in right with two outs. It would take Twin Valley until the fourth inning before they would get their first baserunner, a walk to Hailie Barton. Erin Cromwell helped her own cause with a two run home run that just snuck over the fence in left to cut the deficit to 5-2. The Bulldogs then blew the doors off of this one, as nine straight batters reached and eight came around to score. Freshman Shannon Bratton struck out 12 Raiders, while Erin Cromwell was battered for 12 hits and five walks. The win marked the thirteenth in a row for WIlson West Lawn. Listen to the rebroadcast of this game on the Eastern PA Sports Network HERE, featuring Scott Johnston and Christian Malinowski.

Wednesday, 4/23:

• Emmaus took care of business at Pates Park, blowing out Central Catholic 15-1. It was Amanda King with a big day from the bottom of the lineup, batting in six runs and scoring twice as part of her 3-for-4 afternoon. Sadie Haefeli knocked in three more. Mari Eiswerth tamed the Vikettes, striking out 12 and walking one as part of her two-hitter. The win keeps Emmaus among the top four teams in District XI 6A.
• East Stroudsburg South pulled away from Pocono Mountain West late, 9-3 after the game had been tied at 2-2 headed to the fifth inning. The win kept slim playoff hopes alive for the Cavaliers, who need to win out(following their loss to Stroudsburg detailed later in this article) to qualify for districts. Four runs came across in the top of the fifth, all with two outs. RBI hits by Joslynn Yurescko, Johanna Carey and Nina Venslosky broke the game open, giving the Cavs a 6-2 lead. The Panthers loaded the bases in the sixth with two outs, but Kaylee Masotti grounded out to second base. An Olivia Robinson liner into center field put the nail in the coffin as ES South tacked on three more in the seventh. Robinson and each of the Carey sisters had 2RBI days and Venslosky led all players with three.
• Easton saw a 1-0 early lead slip away as they fell to Northampton 3-2. Gianna Koch’s sacrifice fly to center provided the first run of the ballgame. Neither team threatened after that until Hannah Duerr homered in the fourth for the Konkrete Kids. Kiley Henritzy came home on the long ball and Northampton led 2-1. Easton loaded the bases in the fifth and Koch was hit by a full count pitch to bring in the tying run. In the bottom of the inning, Josephine Siegfried put a ball in right field to drive in the go-ahead and eventual winning run. In the loss, Audrey Rinda struck out 14, while Mikell Kulp and Ryley Gable combined to fan eight.
• A fifth inning explosion of nine runs allowed Nazareth to zip past Freedom 11-1. The Blue Eagles loaded the bases in the first inning with one out, but were thwarted. Brooke Rummel singled home Natalie Duro in the bottom of the inning to put the Patriots ahead 1-0. Nazareth grabbed the lead back in the fourth when Lily Moretti laced a double into center, scoring Taylor Friel and Emma Infantino. Friel singled home two more to get the huge fifth inning rally going, making it 4-1. Shauna McNamee concluded the rally with a 3-run home run to deep center.
• Notre Dame Green Pond got back on the winning track, narrowly edging Salisbury 4-3. A wild pitch in the fifth allowed freshman Riley Palank to score, putting the Crusaders ahead 3-2. A ball hit by Palank was mishandled at second base in the sixth, giving an insurance run. Sophia Gunning hit a solo homer in the seventh, but the Falcons could not get any closer. Makenna Deemer struck out five in 3.2 innings of work. and Emily Szczepanski fanned four in three innings.
• Parkland won its second in a row over the Allentown public schools, defeating William Allen 20-1. Emma Kushner and Anna Belletieri both had 2RBI hits in a nine run first inning. They were joined by Allison Hunsberger, who cleared the bases with a triple up the middle. Gianna Hudock joined Hunsberger in having a 3RBI day. Addi Fritzinger struck out seven and walked one in a two-hitter.
• Pocono Mountain East snuck by Stroudsburg 6-5 in a nine inning thriller. The Mounties got going early, scorng two in the first and seeing their first three batters reach base. Elena Trotter doubled to right on a 3-1 pitch, scoring Elizabeth Molinaro. Dorothy Elko then hit one to third, where the ball was thrown away, allowing Trotter to come home. A double play got the Cardinals out of further trouble. A two out hit by Trotter moved the lead to 3-0 in the second. Lauren McClain got PM East back in it, as she reached on an error at third base. Stroudsburg again loaded the bases in the fourth, but could not score, as the Cardinals defense again turned an inning ending double play. Stroudsburg tried a risky move in the fifth, intentionally walking the bases loaded and not pitching to Karlie Jurasits. The gamble paid off, as Catherine Besecker grounded out to short, stranded the bases loaded. Macensize Stover gave the Cardinals their first lead of the day in the sixth, singling home two runs. Stroudsburg tied the game up in the seventh on an error by Emily Dubisz trying to get Molinaro out on a bunt attempt. The Cardinals got two in in the bottom of the seventh, but Victoria flew out to send the game to extras. Both pitchers worked around 1-out singles in the eigth, and the game continued. Trotter again broke through in the top of the ninth, singling in a run and giving Stroudsburg a 5-4 lead. She completed a 4-for-5 day, with 3RBI. However, it wouldn’t be enough, as a 2-out RBI single by Lee tied us up once again. Kenzie VanWinkle, with her third hit of the day, knocked in her only RBI, the game-winner. Besecker scored on the single to left and the Cardinals emerged victorious.
• Exeter picked up an 11-1 win over one-win Governor Mifflin. Leadoff batter Mackenize O’Brien went 2-for-3 with 2RBI. Arianna Harville-Ewing went 2-of-2 with an RBI as well. Cheynne Boyles held the Mustangs to two hits and struck out five.
• Muhlenberg rolled up a 19-3 win over Reading. Kaylee Jablonski started the scoring with a 2-run home run as part of her 3-for-3 4RBI afternoon. Ava Missimer, Roselyn Hernandez and Ajah Goodman all knocked in two. Jablonski threw a two-hitter, as none of the three Red Knights runs were earned. On the game, Reading committed 11 errors and as a result, Muhlenberg scored 12 unearned runs.
• Fleetwood got right and halted a two-game losing streak by piling up a 15-0 win over Daniel Boone. Fiver Blazers errors led to seven unearned runs crossing the plate for the Tigers. Kathryn Neid and Skyla Baer led the squad with 3RBI apiece. The Tigers also walked eight times in the contest. Sophia Breidegam threw a no-no and fanned six Blazers.
• The Bullets of Brandywine Heights picked up a key 6-5 win over Wyomissing to stay atop the District 3 2A power rankings. Wyomissing built a 4-0 lead early off of two Brandywine errors and a home run from Caris Way. Through the first four innings, the Bullets left six on base and showed few signs of breaking through. But that all changed in the fifth when Kamryn Henry and Jenna Crist each got hits with one out. Allyssa Bortz brought them both home when she tripled to left. Christina Schuster then doubled home Bortz to bring the Bullets within 4-3. The Spartans responded, though, as back to back errors in the bottom of the sixth put Wyomissing in prime position. Pearl Caldwell was caught stealing second base, but the play allowed her sister to score from third and extend the lead to 5-3. Brandywine Heights needed a seventh inning rally. Bortz and Schuster each singled to start the inning, followed by an infield error that loaded the bases with one out. Kamryn Arnold walked on a 3-1 pitch, forcing in a run and bringing the Bullets within a run. Kaitlyn Steventon tied the game up singled through short and tied the game up. Henry provided the go-ahead and eventual winning run when she lined one into right field. An early double play was crucial for the Bullets, as they erased a leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh. With two in scoring position, Taylor Watts popped out on the infield to end the game.
• Hamburg took care of Berks Catholic 11-1 in five innings. The Saints racked up seven errors and the Hawks compiled 14 hits on the afternoon. Norah Davey, Erica Gerner, Jenna Shuman and Kdia Chwatek all had 2RBI days, accounting for nine hits. Molly Krick allowed only three hits. The win marked seven in a row, as the Hawks try to pass Kennard Dale and/or Northern Lebanon in the District 3 4A power rankings.
• Schuylkill Valley moved one win closer to locking up a playoff berth, defeating Oley Valley 9-4. The Panthers loaded the bases in the first, but two flyouts kept them off the board. The Lynx struck first in the third on a 2-run double. It would not be until the bottom of the sixth that Schuylkill Valley would finally break through. And break through they did piling up nine runs and making the final score look far more lopsided than the game truly was. Brooke Angstadt led off with a triple into right field and she was promptly brought home on an RBI hit by Kayla Konetsky. Taryn Rittenhouse tied the game by lining one up the middle, and the rally started by the bottom of the order rolled on from there. Adi Leroy delivered the go-ahead runs, singling to center. Konetsky ended her day going 2-for-4 with 3RBI. All nine Panthers batters got at least one hit.
• Ten unearned runs crossed home plate in Tulpehocken’s 18-3 win over Antietam. Molly Goldberg blasted a w-run homer and Zoee White added a solo shot. The Trojans pounded out 12 hits, taking advantage of five errors and eight walks. Tulpehocken remains the #8 seed in District 3 class 3A, where the top ten will qualify for the playoffs.
• Liberty shutout Bethlehem Catholic 11-0 behind a seven run sixth inning that put things well out of reach for the Golden Hawks. 2RBI singles by Addy Smith and Leah Onia put the final nails in the coffin for the Hurricanes. Smith and Abbie Benner both struck out six Hawks, giving up two hits. The win marked four consecutive for Liberty, as they remain the #2 seed in the DXI 6A power rankings.
• Five runs in the first inning set the tone for Bangor’s 12-6 victory over WIlson Area. The Slaters got a 4RBI day from Brook Hermanski and three more from Kaileigh McGowan. Hermanski socked a 3-run home run in the sixth inning, extending the lead from 8-6 to 11-6. Tessa Fredericks homered in the loss, giving Bangor a 2-0 lead at the time.

Thursday, 4/24:

• Fifteen batters came to the plate in Pleasant Valley’s 10-run sixth inning, securing a 16-1 rout over East Stroudsburg North. Lydia Borger batted in five on the game, going 3-for-5. The Bears pounded out 21 hits and walked only twice, as Kailyn Getz threw five innings of no-hit ball, striking out six. All nine starters managed at least one hit. Allison Borger went 4-for-4 and scored three times.
• Hazleton stranded the bases loaded in their first two innings of an 11-1 loss to Northampton. The Konkrete Kids, on the other hand, exploded in the third inning for seven runs, spurred on by Hannah Duerr and Kiley Henritzy each singled home two runs in the inning. Later in the game, Avery Deibert hit a solo home run to bump the lead to 8-0. Sophomore Rylee Gable struck out 12 Cougars and didn’t allow a Hazleton run until the sixth. Megan Ferenchak, one of the two seniors on the Kids roster, also contributed 2RBI.
• Brandywine Heights notched a third consecutive win, blasting Antietam 15-0. Eight of those runs scored on walks, hit by pitches, or passed balls. Kaitlyn Steventon had the only multi-hit performance of the day, going 2-for-3 and bringing home two runs. Jenna Crist struck out five of the nine batters she faced in the abbreviated mercy rule game.
• Palisades took a double header from Catasauqua, shutting out the Rough Riders 15-0 and 20-0. Karlye Teman struck out 13 and no-hit the Roughs in game one. Catie Russo ended the game with the 15-run rule on a 3-run home run to deep center, capping an 11-run fourth. Brooklyn Lucas went 2-for-3 with 3RBI. In game two, Teman threw another no-no and struck out nine. Russo led off this game with a solo shot and Teman ripped a 3-run shot to center. Rhiley Poniktera batted in four runs and went 3-of-3.
• The Palmerton Blue Bombers won their fourth in five tries, rolling over Jim Thorpe 15-3. Mikayla Pengelly had herself a day, delivering the game-winning run early in the second inning on an RBI double to right that put Palmerton ahead 2-1. Two errors would lead to four more runs in the second inning, putting the Bombers up 7-1. Mackenzie Ferber added 2RBI. Ryah Confer knocked in two for the Olympians.
• Emma Freeman struck out 15 Indians as Northwestern Lehigh rolled to a 10-0 win over Lehighton. The win was the twelfth consecutive victory for the leaders of the District XI 4A pack. Lehighton managed just three baserunners on the game, while the Tigers scored three in the first inning to secure the early lead. A third inning 2RBI double by Shelby Mitman contributed to her 3RBI day and put the game well out of reach at 5-0.
• Saucon Valley handed Northern Lehigh a second straight loss after six straight wins for the Bulldogs. The Panthers got a big game from Ryan Gall, who notched a 2RBI effort on a single and sac fly. The sisters Seyfried, Matty and Morgan, accounted for the other two runs batted in. Fourteen Bulldogs struck out at the hand of Maddy Seyfried and despite six hits and three Panthers errors, Northern Lehigh did not score its lone run until the sixth. The Bulldogs did threaten in the fourth, loading the bases with two outs, but a strikeout stranded the bases loaded.
• Tulpehocken won its third in a row, holding on over Muhlenberg 13-8. The Raiders jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a bases loaded walk to Leanne Eckenrode, a sac fly, and a passed ball. The Muhls responded with four in their half of the first to take the 4-3 lead. Madi Wentzel brought two runs in with a single up the middle. An infield error put Muhlenberg ahead, but an error by shortstop Roselyn Hernandez quickly gave two runs back to Tulpy. Juliet Snyder doubled home two more runs to extend the lead to 7-4. By the time Kaylee Jablonski hit a solo home run, the Muhls were trailing 11-5. With the bases full in the sixth, Muhlenberg cut the lead on a Wentzel RBI walk and a passed ball that scored Jaela Eaton. Tulpehocken kept the pressure on, loading the bases in the seventh and scoring twice on walks. Snyder finished her day with 4RBI and Eckenrode brought home three more. Despite giving up five eared runs, Molly Goldberg still got 12 Muhls to strikeout. In defeat, Madi Wentzel walked eight Raiders.
• Kutztown rebounded after a loss to powerhouse Northwestern Lehigh by shutting out Annville-Cleona 9-0. Klara Schnore’s 2-run double in the bottom of the third really put this one out of reach at 6-0. Meanwhile, the Dutchmen only managed three baserunners all afternoon. Brianna Bauscher was the primary cause of that, striking out nine A-C batters and allowing only one hit over five innings of work. Powerful anchor hitter Miranda Morstatt tallied three hits, scoring twice and bringing home two runs.

Friday, 4/25:

• Kutztown rolled right along following the win over Annville-Cleona by trouncing Brandywine Heights 11-1 and halting a three game winning streak. An error at third base helped three runs come home on a Kourtney Dietrich single in the first. Jade Fitzgerald singled to left and chased home Sadie Berger. Another error allowed a second run to score on the play, making the score 7-0. Nine more strikeouts were recorded by Brianna Bauscher in the six inning game. Listen to a rebroadcast of this game on the Eastern PA Sports network HERE.
• A ten run seventh inning rocketed Central Catholic to a 15-2 win over Dieruff. Kairi Charles, Gianna Menecola and Hailey Kahr all had 3RBI efforts, combining for eight of their team’s 19 hits. Eloise Brown went 4-for-4 and scored a run. Kahr and Jenna Dalrymple struck out 16 Huskies.
• Natalie Chloros and Lily Moretti each went deep for a 2-run home run as part of Nazareth’s 9-1 victory over Bethlehem Catholic. Avery Kauffman fanned ten and Kylie Grover struck out four more. The Hawks stranded 14 runners on base, including two bases loaded opportunities. Becahi also squandered seven walks and a couple of Blue Eagles errors. Chloros had an outstanding 4-for-4 6RBI day. The win keeps Nazareth atop the 6A power rankings as the playoffs near.
• Stroudsburg picked up a critical victory in their effort to stay a top four seed in the upcoming district playoffs, getting by East Stroudsburg South 7-5. The Mounties trailed for most of the game, including 4-2 before they went off for five runs in the sixth. Melissa Safin tied the game at 4-4 on a 2RBI single into center field. Jordan Cook, from the 9-hole in the lineup, put Stroudsburg ahead 6-4 with a 2RBI double. In the loss, Johanna Carey got two hits and brought home two runs.
• Freedom and Easton were locked in a pitchers duel all afternoon long. Through seven innings, the game was scoreless Easton got two on in the fifth, but an Audrey Rinda strikeout ended the threat. It would take until the eighth inning for Brooke Rummel to blast a home run to center, putting the Patriots up 2-0. A leadoff error in the bottom of the inning allowed a run to eventually come around and score for the Rovers, but Gianna Koch flew out to center to end the ballgame. Audrey Rinda struck out nine in the loss. Namelia Duro fanned five. Easton will play four of its last five games on the road and still needs two wins to secure a district playoff berth.
• Amanda King threw a three-inning no-hitter against William Allen in Emmaus’ 20-0 victory. 2RBI hits by Abby Derr, Sophia Tranguch, Brianna Gitski, King, Avery Shank, and Sadie Haefeli helped the Hornets pile up 13 runs in the first inning. Shank finished the game with 4RBI and Haefeli brought in three. Emmaus is now 14-3, sitting as the third seed in the power rankings.
• Addi Sabo’s bases clearing double in the fifth inning was the key hit in Liberty’s 6-2 victory over Northampton. Both defenses were busy in this one, as the teams combined to strikeout just one time and walk twice. Both teams have qualified for districts and could meet again in the first round of the playoffs.
• Shelby Mitman and Abby Dunstan each smacked a 2-run shot in Northwestern Lehigh’s 6-2 victory over rival Northern Lehigh. A sixth inning 2-out rally by the Bulldogs was ended with two on, when Emma Gad grounded back to Emma Freeman. Freeman recorded nine strikeouts and walked two.
• Pleasant Valley defeated the top seed in the 5A power rankings, Pocono Mountain East, 11-4. The Cardinals led this game 3-0 going to the fourth. Then, the Bears roared to life with seven runs. Allison Borger tied the game up with a 2-run home run and Katie VanSchoyck put her squad ahead for good. Lydia Borger’s 2-run double added insurance. Jovie Valenzuela ripped a solo shot that moved the score to 8-3. The Borger sisters accounted for 5RBI on the afternoon.
• Nicole Domermuth’s solo home run in the fourth inning was enough to get Schuylkill Haven by Oley Valley 5-4. Ava Walters and Emma Ott provided RBI singles in the sixth inning to pull within 5-3. Taylor Schlegel tripled in the seventh to score Anaya Brown. Ava Walters nearly delivered the game-tying hit, but her shot into right was caught by Abby Scherer to end it. Gracelyn Line struck out seven Lynx batters and on the other side, Cheyenne Walsh walked six and struck out none against a powerful Schuylkill League opponent.
• Exeter’s eight-run second inning allowed the Eagles to withstand a few rally attempts by Lampeter-Strasburg and win 9-7. Cheyenne Boyles and Avery Gibbons each notched a 2RBI hit in that second inning, Gibbons began the inning grounding out to second base. With the tying runs on base in the seventh, Mackenzie O’Brien struck the batter out to finally put the game to bed. It was her eighth K of the day. The Eagles racked up 13 hits and did not strikeout on the game.
• Wilson West Lawn picked up a key non-conference victory, coming back to beat Warwick 6-2. The Warriors led this one 2-1 in the third inning before the Bulldogs got RBI doubles from Ava Legath and Madi Farrell. Olivia Keller tripled to right, scoring Leah Berkis and Kaya Werley in the fourth to provide huge insurance runs. Shannon Bratton continued her very impressive freshman season, striking out 12 and allowing only one hit.
• Nine errors and eight walks contributed to ten unearned runs scoring for Hamburg in their 19-0 drubbing of Daniel Boone. Madi Wessner, Norah Davey and Molly Krick each had 2RBI days. Krick’s came on a home run. Mackenzie Hoover fanned nine and allowed three hits. The Hawks have now won eight in a row and will next take on Kutztown on Monday night.
• Lainee Guldner hit an inside the park grand slam in the first inning to spark Fleetwood’s 15-0 rout of Garden Spot in a road non-conference game. Emily Miller then did the same with a 2-run homer inside the park. Guldner finished her day with 6RBI to lead the Tigers. Isabelle Santangelo pitched a mercy-rule shortened two-hitter.
• Power, power, and more power were the key for Twin Valley’s 15-8 home win over Ehphrata. Early on, Erin Cromwell helped her own cause with a solo shot. She then stepped to the plate in the second and did it again. Megan Krall joined her with a 2RBI shot to center. Ephrata saw Kaliana Auchey scorch a grand slam and Emma Zimmerman clobber two balls out of the park. Between all the hits and seven earned runs, Cromwell still struck out 14 batters and her Raiders did not strike out at all on the game.
• Caris Way and Abby Hassler dueled all afternoon long, but it was ELCO coming away with a 4-2 win at Wyomissing, dealing a significant blow to the Spartans’ playoff aspirations. Each struck out ten opposing batters, but a Chloe Shirk RBI single tied the game up at 1-1 and a wild pitch to Emma Fisher brought home Makayla Noll for the winning run. Noll provided another insurance run in the sixth, doubling to right.
• Back to back 12-run innings lifted Antietam past Lincoln Leadership Academy 24-7, snapping a 144-game losing streak that dated back to a 9-8 victory over Wyomissing in 2014. All nine Mounties registered at least one RBI and Kaitlyn Zeiber, along the way, started the scoring with a 3-run home run to deep left. Two hit by pitches and two more bases loaded walks kept the scoring going early. Lincoln Leadership, despite scoring the seven runs, did not register a hit, due to the runs coming on bases loaded walks and wild pitches. Lilah Roberts and Zeiber each had a 4RBI day.

Saturday, 4/26:

• Fresh off a 6-2 loss to Liberty, the Northampton Konkrete Kids needed to turn the page quickly, as they faced Schuylkill League power Pine Grove at Patriots Park on Saturday night. Florida State commit and coach’s daughter Callee Leffler hit a 2RBI inside the park home run that got lost down in the right field corner. Lebanon Valley commit Madi Shiffer did the same as Pine Grove shutdown Northampton with four runs in the seventh, breaking open what had been a close game throughout. The replay of this game can be heard on the Eastern PA Sports Network here.
• The heart of the order came up clutch for Palisades, as they got by Hazleton 4-1 at Patriots Park on Saturday afternoon. A third inning 2-out rally with RBI hits by Karlye Teman, Jordyn Bonelli, and Brooklynn Lewis was exactly what the doctor ordered for the Pirates, who improved to 13-3 with a seventh straight win. Teman threw a ten-K no-hitter.