Inside Lehigh Valley Softball: Week 7 Digest

It’s the final full week of action before conference tournaments get rocking and soon enough, we’ll be on to districts. Let’s take a look at an extremely busy week of action!

Monday, 4/28:

• In a crowded District 3 3A playoff field, Schuylkill Valley got a much-needed 5-3 win over Schuylkill League foe Schuylkill Haven. Adi Leroy played small ball to perfection, sacrificing twice on bunts to bring home huge runs. Her first sac bunt in the fifth put the Panthers ahead for good and the second provided a key insurance run in the seventh. Kylie Gunter also played a key role, getting on base with three hits. Seven Haven players were stranded on base by the Panthers.
• While both pitchers recorded nine strikeouts, it’d be East Stroudsburg North’s Jennika Doyle on the winning end of a 10-0 decision over William Allen. Jaylean Marcoux’s first inning 2RBI triple helped the Timberwolves build a 5-0 lead. Two errors, two walks, and two hits resulted in six runners stranded for the Canaries in the loss. Doyle knocked in three runs, while Alexis McAteer added another.
• Central Catholic picked up an exciting win over Pocono Mountain West at Pates Park 9-8. Skylar Taylor and Lucianne Comfort singled home a combined three runs in the third, pushing an early Vikettes lead to 4-1. A mishandled ball in center field, though, allowed two Panthers to score and bring the deficit to just 4-3. Kairi Charles and Gianna Menecola each put the ball in play in the fourth to bring home two more runs, aided by an error on the infield. The game would be tied up at 7-7 when Sam Ride popped one into right field to score two runs. The Panthers led 8-7 on a Lilianna RBI single to right. Two errors in the bottom of the seventh put the Vikettes in business and Julia Janis made the Panthers pay with a walkoff double into left. The two teams combined for 11 errors and only five of the 17 runs in the game were earned. Despite all the runs and errors, 21 batters struck out on the afternoon.
• After losing five of their last eight, Notre Dame Green Pond won its second straight, 7-4 over Bangor. Addison Ryan got the Crusaders started with a 2-run home run to right, scoring Riley Palank. Her 2RBI double in the third would tie the game at 4 after the Slaters scored four in their half of the second. Brook Hermanski’s 2RBI hit gave Bangor the short-lived 4-2 lead prior. Sydney Ryan delivered the game winning RBI double in the third to score her sister. Bangor would strand seven runners from the third inning on, including leaving the bases loaded in the fourth. Emily Szczepanski again returned to the circle for the Crusaders, giving up 13 hits but only walking one.
• The Salisbury Falcons kept Catasauqua winless on the year, defeating the Rough Riders 11-1 in five innings. Jenna Swoyer needed just 77 pitches to get by Catty, fanning nine and giving up four hits. Gianna Olds knocked in three runs on two hits and Leilanna Negron brought home four with her two hits. Amelia Swoyer went 3-for-3 and scored all three times that she was on base.
• Palmerton won its second against Colonial League newcomer Jim Thorpe 13-2. Seven runs came across to score in the first inning, putting the game away early. Madi Thomas hit a 2RBI single and Tessa Sander saw two runs score on her hit back to the circle where the throw home would not come in time. Hailey Barry pitched a two-hitter and struck out six.
• Northwestern Lehigh continued rolling through its Colonial League opponents, blasting Lehighton 17-0. Abby Dunstan hit a grand slam to cap off a 10-run first inning. Natalie Conner and Ainsley Behler each knocked in three more. Emma Freeman threw a one-hitter, fanning five. The Tigers would go on to outscore their opponents 79-8 this week.
• Sage Smeltz put in a 5RBI day for Williams Valley in the VIkings’ 11-4 win on the road at Northern Lehigh. Tegan Simms singled through short to give the Bulldogs a 4-3 lead after three. Williams Valley pulled away for good in the sixth, as Smeltz knocked home three on a triple into center. Olivia Hand struck out six and walked one in the win, while Addy Smith was battered for 15 hits, 10 earned runs.
• Palisades ran its win streak to eight, beating Southern Lehigh 5-3. Karlye Teman did exactly what Karlye Teman does, adding 15 more strikeouts to her career-record shattering totals. Brooklynn Lucas homered in the fourth, as the Pirates built a 5-1 lead.
• The Exeter Eagles took care of business in one of their many must-have wins of the week, 17-2 over Reading. Marion Eagle provided the game-winning hit in the second inning on a single past first base, scoring Liana Dinnini to unknot a 2-2 tie. Three wild pitches scored three more runs in the inning, and before the Knights knew it, they trailed 8-2 after two. Jillian Warner completed a 5RBI effort with three hits and three runs scored. In 3.2 innings of work, Cheyenne Boyles got nine Knights to strikeout.
• Wilson West Lawn won its fifteenth straight, blowing by Governor Mifflin 15-0 in three innings of play. Tatum Werley hit a 2-run shot as part of a 3-for-3 day. Abby Zerbe also went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two more batted in. Freshman Shannon Bratton continued to impress, throwing a five-K one-hitter.
• Conrad-Weiser beat Muhlenberg 28-10, and yes, this was still softball and not football. The Lady Scouts racked up 22 hits walked seven times, and took advantage of three Muhl errors. Four home runs rained down on Muhlenberg, including two in the first inning. Skylir Berger hit a grand slam to center and Alex Trevens put a 2-run shot out to left. Macy Snyder hit a 2-run homer in the second inning, moving the Scouts lead to 19-3. Both Berger and Trevena finished with 6RBI. For the Muhls, Hernandez, Brill, Jablonski and Wentzel all brought in two runs.
• Twin Valley remained near the top of the District 3 3A field with their 20-3 win over Daniel Boone. Erin Cromwell’s third inning 3-run home run to center put some separation(7-3) between the Raiders and the pesky Blazers, who had even led 2-0 early. Six Blazers errors kept the runs coming for their opponent. Olivia Escalona joined Cromwell on a 4RBI day. Maggie Stoltzfus and Alex Podehl batted two more in a piece. Stoltzfus got the start in the circle and cruised her way to a four-hitter with four Ks.
• Berks Catholic, a team having a down year following some big graduations, picked off Brandywine Heights 7-1. The Bullets stranded six, but never really mounted a significant threat in the game. Giana Mirenda was the key to victory for the Saints, striking out 12 in a three-hitter and knocking a a late 2-run home run as part of her 3RBI on offense. Bryanna Gallagher was 2-of-4 with 2RBI.
• Five runs in the second inning were enough for Kutztown to get by Hamburg 5-3. The win marked four in a row for the Cougars. Flip Oldt blew a close game open early on a double into the gap in center, clearing the bases. Kutztown sits atop the District 3 3A power rankings, while Hamburg is trying to get into the top four of 4A for a home district playoff game.
• Anaya Brown had a 3-for-3 day with 4RBI and two runs scored in Oley Valley’s 17-2 victory over Antietam. Six errors led to seven unearned runs coming across for the Lynx. Stella Williams went 2-for-3, scoring twice and bringing in three.
• In a furious battle of two teams desperately trying to keep their postseason hopes alive, Wyomissing emerged victorious over Tulpehocken 8-7. Pearl Caldwell took a walk with the bases loaded in the second inning to tie the score at 1-1. Liliana Stanco grounded out to second base, but a run came in and the Spartans had a 2-1 lead. They increased that lead to 4-1, trying to put the game away, as Kylie Schoedler went deep to left for a home run. Tulpy struck back in the third on hits by Juliet Snyder and Zoee White to knot the game at 4-4. Things fell apart for the Trojans in the fifth, as two errors and a passed ball brought home three runs. Tulpy had a bases loaded opportunity in the sixth to come back and tie or take the lead, but a fielders choice ended the inning and the Trojans went in order in the seventh.
• Saucon Valley capitalized on seven Dieruff errors and rolled to a 16-1 win. Eliza Sullivan enjoyed a 3-of-4 day with 4RBI and a run scored. Ryan Gall was 3-of-4 with 3RBI. Matty and Morgan Seyfried combined on a two-hitter, striking out five.

Tuesday, 4/29:

• The Freedom Patriots did what they needed to do to remain in the top four of the 6A power rankings, plowing through Bethlehem Catholic 20-4. An 8-2 lead escalated much further when 12 runs crossed in the sixth inning. Hannah Heidemann rocketed a grand slam and totaled a 6RBI effort. Maia D’Amico and Siara Gonzalez each batted in four. Namelia Duro and Morgan Pavolko combined to strikeout eight Golden Hawks. Freedom remains the fourth seed in the district power rankings.
• For the second time in a week, Pen Argyl dominated WIlson. The first game was 17-0 and this one was nearly identical at 16-1. Jillian Bradley allowed only three hits and fanned eight in her outing. A couple of seven run innings were highlighted by Rylee Wentz knocking in three runs and two more each from Grace Weaver, Talia Curtolo and Angelina Beltran. The Green Knights still trail Palisades and Pine Grove in 3A, but have long since secured a playoff spot and will have a chance to make a statement against two top powers.
• A day after scoring 28 runs, the Conrad Weiser Scouts cranked out 19 more in their 19-9 win over Daniel Boone. Alex Trevena’s 2-run single in the first inning helped the Scouts to an early 3-0 lead. The Blazers quickly countered with two of their own, but that would be as close as the game got. Seven runs came in for Weiser in the third and fourth innings. Four singles, two walks and a ground out did the trick in the third, including two RBI hits by Madi Derfler and naother from Trevena. Derfler knocked a grand slam out over the fence in left to cap the scoring in the fourth inning. Derfler finished the afternoon with 6RBI. Skylir Berger, Trevena and Cecillia Phillips all had 2RBI efforts. The win gets the Scouts closer to the top 14 in the 5A playoff field, but they currently stand as the 17th team and on the outside looking in.
• After five shutout innings, Saucon Valley pitching gave up four late runs and fell to Salisbury 4-2. Through those first five innings, Salisbury didn’t even have a hit; five walks and an error led to six baserunners. RBI singles by Rylan Best and Savannah Schlegel were the only scoring plays prior to the late Salisbury rally. The top of the sixth started off innocently enough with a Sophia Gunning walk. An error in right field put runners on the corners with one out. Amelia Swoyer finally put the Falcons on the board with an RBI single to right. A wild pitch then scored Gianna Olds and tied the game. Swoyer then scored on another wild pitch for the eventual game winning run. Saucon Valley went in order in the sixth and seventh. A 5.1 inning gem by Matty Seyfried would be for not. In defeat, she struck out 13 and surrendered only one hit and five walks but was tagged with two earned runs. The win went to Tessa Kemmerer.
• Palmerton, after defeating Jim Thorpe, took down fellow Colonial newcomer Lehighton 14-4. Eight runs in the first inning would be more than enough for the Blue Bombers. Mikayla Pengelly singled to leadoff the inning and came around on a mishandled ball at home. Grace Schneider then tripled home two runs before eventually scoring on a passed ball. Schneider also led off the fourth inning with a triple to the wall in center and came around to score on a hit by Mackenzie Ferber. None of the four runs scored by the Indians were earned, as Hailey Barry was hit six times but walked none and fanned three. The victory secured a playoff berth for the Bombers.
• Nine errors by Catasauqua helped Northwestern Lehigh to a 25-2 victory in three innings. The Tigers continued to dominate. Along the way, Abby Dunstan cracked a 3-run home run. Avery Seyler was 2-for-3 with 4RBI. The Tigers racked up 19 hits on the afternoon and Emily Diehl pitched a two-hitter. She walked one and struck out one.
• Exeter held off Hempfield 4-3. Leadoff hitter Mackenzie O’Brien put her squad ahead 2-0 in the second before Hempfield tied things up on an Emma McPherson hit in the fourth. Following a wild pitch that moved two into scoring position, Marion Eagle grounded out, but the run scored and Exeter was back in front 3-2 after four. O’Brien struck out seven in the circle and walked one, giving up six hits. Both teams currently sit on the outside of the playoffs.
• Parkland notched its eighth win of the season, defeating Central Catholic 19-1. Five runs scored on bases loaded walks and Scerena Reed had a 2RBI double to put the Trojans ahead 11-0. Ami patel also added a 2RBI single. Thirteen Trojans walked on the game. The victory put Parkland one win away from clinching a playoff berth.
• Madi Perez was the star for Stroudsburg, batting in seven runs in the Mounties’ 17-2 rout of East Stroudsburg North. The Mounties put on a display of power; Perez skied a grand slam in the first inning out to center, putting the Mounties up 4-0 early. Later in that inning, Ella Fagan-Huse knocked one out of the park for a 3-run shot. Perez struck again with a 3-run shot and Dorothy Elko hit a 2-run home run that ended the second inning scoring with Stroudsburg up 15-0. Melissa Safin also went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and 3RBI.
• It wasn’t the 9-2 blowout that it had been a week ago, but Liberty still beat Easton for a second time, 3-1. Addison Sabo accounted for two of the three Hurricanes’ runs with a triple and by hitting into a fielders choice. Kailyn Castellano got Easton on the board in the top of the seventh with no outs, but with the tying run at the plate three times, Addy Smith’s defense made three straight putouts to end the Rovers’ hopes of a comeback.
• Emmaus continued pounding all of the schools from Allentown, completing the three game stretch with an 18-3 win over Dieruff. Abby Derr had a 2RBI double and she was joined by Sarah Longbons, Brianna Gitski and Sydney Bennett with 2RBI days. Amanda King and Mari Eiswerth both pitched two innings, combining for 11 strikeouts and giving up two hits. The Huskies committed eight errors along the way and none of their three runs were earned.
• A seven run third inning by Nazareth turned around what had been a 3-1 Northampton game, leading to a 9-3 victory for the Blue Eagles. A battle of home runs highlighted the game. Shauna McNamee got the day started with a solo shot to center, putting Nazareth up 1-0. Avery Deibert broke a 1-1 tie in the first with a 2-run home run to left. The third inning Eagle rally was punctuated by a Taylor Friel 3-run shot that broke a 3-3 tie. Emma Infantino then followed up with a solo shot to extend the lead to 7-3. After the early three runs for Northampton, their only other baserunner would be a 1-out walk in the sixth. Kylie Grover struck out ten Konkrete Kids.
• Pleasant Valley secured its tenth win and a 5A playoff berth by blowing away Pocono Mountain West 13-3. Lydia Borger’s hit into right field got by the fielder to clear the bases, giving the Bears an early 5-0 lead. She did the same to center field in the second inning and another error in the outfield again chases three runs home. She would later sacrifice to center field to bring home one more but was officially credited with just 3RBI. Jovie Valenzuela batted in four on a three hit day. Kailyn Getz struck out 11 Panthers
• Whitehall made it five wins in a row, zipping by William Allen 16-1. Molly McFetridge highlighted an eight run first inning with a 2-run double and Alyssa Dunbar tripled in two more. Morgan Laub and Jules Muth combined for seven Ks and a no-hitter.

Wednesday, 4/30:

• Another day, another Northwestern Lehigh blowout win. This time, it was a 21-0 drubbing of Jim Thorpe. The game was fairly normal through three innings, with the Tigers leading 3-0. Then the dam burst with 18 runners touching home plate. When all was said and done, 24 batters had an appearance. Three wild pitches, an error and five bases loaded walks contributed to the chaos. Every Tiger in the lineup had an RBI and none had more than two. Lizzie Diehl fanned seven Olympians.
• Northern Lehigh snapped a three game losing streak, picking up an 11-1 win over Lehighton to put the Bulldogs two wins away from a playoff berth. The first four innings saw only one run, a Marisa Maehrer RBI single with the bases loaded in the second. The Indians also loaded the bases in their half of the first inning on three walks, but could not score. A fourth batter walked in the second with two outs. Six runs were plated in the fifth, including 2RBI hits for Maehrer and Kylee Snyder.
• Despite the final score being 7-6, it was a game that Palisades held control of for most of the way, beating Notre Dame Green Pond in a battle atop the Colonial league. Karlye Teman helped herself with a first inning RBI single. Hannah Lilly responded with an RBI single, but after three innings, the Crusaders trailed 4-1. Lilly’s hit in the fifth inning resulted in an error on a catch at first base, allowing a run to come home; NDGP cut the deficit to 4-3. After the Pirates put up two more runs, Emily Szczepanski knocked in two more to pull the Crusaders within 6-5. Teman’s sacrifice bunt made it 7-5 and the Crusaders put up one in the seventh, but no more. In the win, Teman struck out eight. She and Jordyn Bonelli both ended up with 2RBI.
• Pen Argyl extended Wilson Area’s losing streak to five, placing them on the brink of playoff elimination. Eleven Green Knights walked and Rylee Wentz led the team with 3RBI. Grace Weaver, Angelina Beltran and Talia Curtolo all brought home two runs each. Jill Bradley won the game in three innings on 52 pitches, striking out eight.
• Southern Lehigh put Salisbury on the verge of playoff elimination, blowing them out 13-3. Lila Padden was 4-for-5 with 5RBI Lily Kelly went 2-for-4 with 4RBI and homered. Delaney Young surrendered only five hits in her complete game win. Eight runs came in over the first two innings, building an early 8-1 lead and putting the game out of reach early on. The win snaps a two-game losing streak for the Spartans keeps them atop the 5A power rankings.
• Exeter rolled up 22 runs in a shutout win over Muhlenberg. Jill Warner was the RBI leader of the day, bringing in four runs, followed by Meghan Moyer with three. Cheyenne Boyles threw a 43-pitch two-hitter. Exeter remains one spot away from the 14-team playoff field in District 3 5A.
• Governor Mifflin got its second victory, 12-1 over Daniel Boone. Abby Brunelli led off the game with a home run to right. Ciandra Diaz had a 2-for-3 day with 3RBI. Valleri Addis added two more. Brunelli struck out ten Blazers and was hit just three times.
• Freshman Shannon Bratton continues to make her name known around Berks County and District 3. In addition to her usual awesome performance in the circle, striking out seven and throwing a one-hitter, she hit a solo home run in her team’s 18-0 demolition of Reading. The win marks 16 in a row for the Bulldogs who have been unstoppable since late March. Ava Legath brought in a season high 6RBI on three hits and three more came from Madi Farrell.
• Fleetwood, having lost four of their last seven, needed a solid win to stay on track for the District 3 3A playoffs. They got it, 19-8 over Conrad Weiser. The Tigers exploded for 24 hits, including a two-run homerun by Morgan Koehler, solo shot by Lainee Guldner and 3-run bomb from Blair Rauenzahn. In the loss, Alex Trevena went 3-of-3 with 2RBI and both Macy Snyder and Lily McPherson also had 2RBI. Fleetwood built a 12-4 lead halfway through the contest.
• Kutztown stretched its win streak to five and remained atop the District 3 3A playoff field with an 8-2 win over Berks Catholic. It was not the blowout it seemed most of the way, as six runs came in the sixth inning. The Saints stranded runners in every inning except the sixth, having multiple chances to get back in this one before the late Cougar rally. The keys for Kutztown were a 2RBI single by Jayden Gehris followed by a 3-run shot from Flip Oldt out to center. Brianna Bauscher also had a great outing, striking out 11 Saints and walked only one. Berks stranded nine runners on base and amassed seven hits. Giana Mirenda struck out eight.
• Hamburg picked up a big win over Schuylkill Valley, 6-3. The Hawks are in a battle for a top 4 seed in the 4A playoffs, while Schuylkill Valley is just on the outside looking in at the 3A field. Erica Gerner produced the first two runs of the game for the Hawks with an RBI single and a groundout to short. A Gabby Leone RBI hit and wild pitch moved the Panthers within 3-2. Molly Krick finally provided separation in the sixth with her 2RBI double to left. Krick recorded two strikeouts in the seventh to get the Panthers in order and put the game to bed.
• Wyomissing, in its bid to cling to the playoff qualification dream, edged Oley Valley 3-2. An error at first base allowed the Spartans to tie the game early after the Lynx held a quick 1-0 lead. Another error on a wild pitch scored Caris way in the fifth, to finally break the tie. Taylor Schlegel got the game knotted again at 2-2 when she hit into a fielders choice that scored Anaya Brown. It all came down to the bottom of the seventh. Way led off, wearing a pitch and taking first base. Kyla Lytle then singled on a bunt to really put the pressure on. Kylie Schoedler was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Pearl Caldwell hit a seeing-eye single into right and Way scored the game winning run.
• The Zephyrs stranded seven Parkland runners and scratched out three runs for the shutout win. A walk and an error nearly gave Parkland a 2-out rally in the fourth, but Amelia Dawson struck out at the hand of Morgan Laub. The Trojans got two more on in the fifth but two outs in the outfield got Whitehall through. The Zephyr runs came on an RBI single by Jules Muth in the third, a Bella Muth sac fly in the fourth, and a Nya Brown single up the middle in the fifth. The win was Whitehall’s sixth in a row, as they try to heat up at the right time.

Thursday, 5/1:

• Lehighton took Executive Education to task, 16-1, snapping a six game losing streak. The Indians pounded out 17 hits and the Raptors contributed with seven errors. Amber Yeakel had a day with two 2RBI hits. Sophia Wise added a 2RBI triple and Ava Trach doubled in an early run.
• Gianna Menecola hit an inside the park home run as part of the Vikettes 5-1 win over William Allen. Two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for the Canaries in the first, and another walk forced in their only run. Their only other runners would come on a fourth inning walk and a walk and hit in the fifth. A wild pitch and two errors led to three other runs for Central Catholic. Hailey Kahr struck out 15 Canaries in her one-hitter.
• The Red Rovers snapped a four game skid and defeated Bethlehem Catholic to get within one win of being playoff eligible. Zoe Betts and Thalis Burns each hit solo home runs, while two errors brought in two more for Easton. Faith Zimmerman led the way with 3RBI as part of her 3-for-3 day. Audrey Rinda continued to impress, striking out 11 Golden Hawks and giving up only two hits. Easton will need to defeat Nazareth or Phillipsburg next week to make districts.
• Ten runs in the first and five more in the second inning quickly put Pocono Mountain East’s game against East Stroudsburg North to bed in the mercy rule. The Cardinals got 3RBI each from Emily Dubisz and Mackenzie VanWinkle, while Brianne Smith led off theg ame with a solo home run. Dubisz pitched the shortened one-hitter and struck out five of nine batters faced.
• In search of two wins to qualify for the district playoffs, East Stroudsburg South picked up a big one against Pleasant Valley, 14-6. It was back-and-forth through five innings, with the teams deadlocked at 5-5. A bases loaded walk to Mayla Mathew and a passed ball helped put the Cavaliers up 3-0 in the first. Jovie Valenzuela tied things up at 3-3 on a third inning RBI double to left. Maddie Abbatiello and Rylan Knapp knotted the game at 4-4 and 5-5 in the third and fifth innings respectively on an RBI single and double. Then the Cavaliers bats exploded in the sixth inning. Eight hits were recorded, along with an error and a sac fly, allowing ES South to score eight times. Emily Ehrhardt ended up with 3RBI and four Cavs had two.
• Emmaus would not be caught by Whitehall a second time. The Hornets stranded eight Zephyrs on base en route to a 4-1 win. The victory bumped the Hornets up to the second seed in the 6A playoff field. Avery DeFanti hit a solo home run to center in the sixth, capping the Emmaus scoring in the game. Ava Shank doubled to right an inning earlier for an RBI. Mari Eiswerth amassed ten strikeouts. Two leadoff walks in the fifth provided Whitehall a golden opportunity to get in the game, but Eiswerth recorded two huge strikeouts with runners in scoring position.
• In a battle of top EPC teams in 6A, Nazareth edged Liberty 3-2 in eight innings. Shauna McNamee got the Blue Eagles on the board with a solo home run to leadoff their half of the first, tying the game at 1-1. An error at short allowed Alina Weaver to score the go-ahead run in the fourth. Leah Onia tied the game up with an RBI single in the fifth. The teams remained tied after seven and headed to extra innings. Adrianna O’Neill singled to open the inning, but Rivera struck out with O’Neill on second. Alina Weaver hit a 2-out double in the bottom of the eighth and was brought home on a McNamee fly ball that fell in right field. Kylie Grover got the complete game win on 135 pitches, striking out seven, walking one, and giving up ten hits.
• Aubrey Wilson’s no-hitter and 3RBI efforts by Chelsea Dietrick and Scerena Reed powered Parkland by Dieruff 13-0. The win cemented a playoff berth for Parkland, who moved to 9-7 on the season.
• Northwestern Lehigh did it again, skating by Palmerton 16-6. This one was not as easy as it looked at first glance, however. Over the first four innings, the Tigers built a 7-0 lead. But the Blue Bombers rallied in the sixth, scoring six. Grace Schneider got them going with a 2-run shot to deep center. Tessa Sander grounded out with Hailey Barry on first base as the tying run, and the threat was over. Northwestern Lehigh countered with nine runs of their own, scoring the first four on two errors and two bases loaded walks. Emma Freeman singled and two wild pitches kept the runs pouring across home plate and invoking the run rule. Rylee McGinley, Natalie Conner, and Ainsley Behler joined Freeman with 2RBI each. Freeman struck out ten in her complete game win.
• Take a walk. That’s just what Wilson Area did in their 24-0 win over Notre Dame East Stroudsburg. The Warriors took 18 walks and only got seven hits in their three inning victory. Tessa Fredericks and Sabrina Espinosa led the way with 4RBI. Fredericks hit a 3-run home run in a 16-run first inning that saw 22 batters make an appearance. Fredericks also pitched the no-hitter.
• Stroudsburg picked up a 5-0 win over Pocono Mountain West, as they seek to secure a top four seed in the upcoming 6A playoffs. Katren Lavra hit two RBI singles, while an infield error led to two runs scoring off a ball hit by Ava Fagan-Huse. Jordan Cook got the start in the circle and surrendered only three hits in her nine strikeout win. Five Panthers errors contributed to their undoing. Lavra had three of the six hits for the Mounties.
• The Southern Lehigh Spartans defeated Saucon Valley 7-3 to remain atop the 5A power rankings and deal a blow to Saucon’s district playoff hopes. Nine Panthers errors were the sloppy highlight of the day, as only two of the Spartans’ runs were earned. Lily Padden went 2-for-3 and scored three times. Delaney Young was hit nine times, but three of her strikeouts were crucial into stopping a second inning Panthers rally that saw Saucon get two on with no outs.
• Fleetwood was dealt a tough blow, falling to Exeter 9-6. The win for Exeter keeps them just one spot out of the district playoffs, while Fleetwood remains in by one, but could miss the BCIAA tournament. Five runs came across in the fifth inning, including a Marion Eagle 2RBI single to left. Exeter also got 2RBI from Meghan Moyer and Jadee Ruiz-Ravelo. The Eagles racked up 11 singles, moving station to station all afternoon long. Peyton Trexler had 2RBI for the Tigers.
• Brandywine Heights and Oley Valley played a thriller, combining for 24 hits and 23 runs, as the Bullets emerged victorious 12-11 on a late run in the seventh after letting a big lead slip away. Christina Schuster’s 2RBI triple was an instrumental part of a five run fourth inning that put Brandywine ahead 11-4. Then the sixth inning came for the Lynx. Taylor Schlegel hit an RBI triple and Cheyenne Walsh singled to left. An error and bases loaded walk allowed two more to come in and knot the game at 11-11. With two outs in the seventh, Jenna Crist ripped a grounder up the middle that was misplayed in center and brought home Kaitlyn Steventon. Walsh doubled for the Lynx in their half of the inning, but was stranded at third as Emma Ott popped out to second. Only five batters struck out combined in the contest, as it was not a great day for the pitchers. Nine Lynx walked.

Friday, 5/2:

• Two time defending state champions Blue Mountain dominated Hamburg 13-5. Molly Krick’s 2RBI single in the sixth was the only run producing hit for the Hawks and it cut the lead to 9-4 at the time. The closest Hamburg got was 9-5. Emmerson Frie’s seventh inning grand slam left no doubt.
• Freedom rocketed by East Stroudsburg North 15-4. Alyssa Laubach hit a 2RBI double in the first inning. Maia D’Amico ‘s 3-run home run to center in the fifth put the Patriots up 9-1 and Landry Guman added a solo shot. Jennika Doyle hit a 2-run homer for the Timberwolves. Each team made four errors, but Freedom pounded out 16 hits and remains the fourth seed in the 6A power rankings.
• Tatum Werley put the exclamation point on a 17-run first inning in Wilson West Lawn’s 19-0 drubbing of Muhlenberg. Layla Kope hit a 2-run shot in the second inning to tack on the final score. Shannon Bratton struck out six of nine batters faced in her no-hitter.
• Nazareth defeated Pocono Mountain East 72, forcing the Cardinals to have to win their final two games to make the district playoffs. Taylor Friel’s 2RBI single in the first set the tone, and Shauna McNamee put the final nail in the coffin with a 2-run home run to cement a 7-1 lead. The Cardinals loaded the bases in the third with one out, but Avery Kauffman picked up a strikeout and induced a popup in foul territory down the left field line to get out of trouble.
• Pen Argyl squeaked by Notre Dame Green Pond 3-2. Jill Bradley got the Green Knights going with an RBI single in the first, followed by an Abby Scherer sac fly. Angelina Beltran grounded out to first base to extend the lead to 3-1 in the fourth. An infield error got Green Pond back within 3-2, but a Riley Palank strikeout looking stalled a comeback effort. The Crusaders got two more in with two outs in the sixth, but Emily Szczepanski grounded out back to her counterpart in the circle.
• Palisades officially ended Salisbury’s playoff hopes in a 2-1 victory. The Pirates loaded the bases in their half of the third, but Brookylnn Lucas was struck out to end the inning. Jordyn Bonelli led off the fourth with a solo home run to center. In the fifth, Caitlin Russo walked and was doubled home by Rhiley Poniktera. A sixth inning rally saw Salisbury score one, but Amelia Swoyer, who had the only hit for the Falcons, struck out, ending the ballgame. Karlye Teman was on fire, striking out 17 and walking only one in a one-hitter.
• Schuylkill Valley edged Berks Catholic 7-6, holding off the Saints after leading 7-0. Through the first five innings, the Saints stranded a total of five runners on base, never really threatening. But that changed on a Harwi bases loaded hit by pitch in the sixth, and the floodgates opened. An error, hit, and ground out brought three more home and then an error by Katelyn Raymond led to two runs in the sixth. Brooke Andrews had 2RBI for the Panthers and Raymond added another.
• Kutztown built an 8-0 lead and survived a 6-run fifth inning by Tulpehocken to win 8-6. The loss may spell the end of the Trojans’ playoff hopes. but they’ll have a couple games next week to try and make the field. Flip Oldt was productive once again, batting in three runs. Jade Fitzgerland Jayden Gehris each chased home two. Kaylee Holland led Tulpehocken with a 2RBI day. Brianna Bauscher struck out nine.
• Saucon Valley beat Catasauqua in a double header by counts of 14-0 and 11-0. The wins may prove very important if the Panthers go on to make the 4A playoff field. In the first game, Cassidy Ash had 4RBI and went 3-for-3. Freshman Savannah Schlegel was 3-for-3 with 3RBI, scoring four times. Matty Seyrfried fanned 13 in her five inning no-hitter. Schlegel was 2-for-4 with 3RBI in game two. Senior Eliza Sullivan batted home two. Morgan Seyrfired threw a three-hitter and struck out eight.
• Bangor needs to win out to make the district playoffs. Lehighton took an early 4-0 lead, but the Slaters scored 15 unanswered for the 15-4 win, setting up a showdown with Pen Argyl. Four RBI hits in the first two innings put Lehighton ahead 4-0. Marissa Siu got things started for Bangor with an RBI double to center. An error allowed a second run to come home. Kaileigh McGowan tied the game on a single that scored Kelli Snow. Adelise DeFranco brought home Aydriana Benware to put Bangor ahead for good. Siu’s hit to left, coupled with an error by the outfielder, cleared the bases and kept the avalanche of runs scoring.
• Easton fell at Council Rock South 1-0 in a classic pitchers duel between Audrey Rinda and Lexi Waring. Neither team had a significant chance in the game until the top of the sixth, when Faith Zimmerman and Alyvia Fleming both singled. Waring struck out her counterpart Audrey Rinda to end the inning after Fleming was thrown out at home. Waring struck out the side in Easton’s seventh, sending the game to the final half inning of regulation still scoreless. Waring hit a hard grounder to second, where an error allowed her to reach. Paige Brady walked on a 3-1 pitch. Faith Zimmerman had another error at second base on a bunt by Molly Gabriele and Brady came around to score and end the ballgame.
• Berks Catholic got by Bishop McDevitt in a non-conference tilt, 4-3. Giana Mirenda led the first inning off with a solo home run and put her team ahead 3-2 on a 2-run shot in the third inning. Mady Kieffer got a bunt down int he seventh and an error at first scored Monroig, ending the game. Mirenda struck out 14 Crusaders, giving up only three hits.
• Kutztown capped its regular season with an 8-6 win on the road at Archbishop Carroll. The Cougars enter the BCIAA tournament on a seven game win streak. Carroll took an early 4-0 lead. Jayden Gehris’ 2RBI double in the fourth got Kutztown back within 4-3. Ava Kutz provided the go-ahead RBI on a bunt back to the pitcher. Miranda Morstatt added insurance on a 2-run grounder to right. Addison Blank led the Cougars with 3RBI. Kutztown remains the top seed in District 3 3A with a 17-3 record, but will need to await several games from other teams behind them in the standings, including four more from Susquenita, which is trying to complete an unbeaten season.
• Twin Valley went on the road at Lancaster Catholic, coming away with a 9-2 win. Hailie Barton, Maggie Stoltzfus and Erin Cromwell each had 2RBI afternoons and Cromwell struck out ten Crusaders while only being hit four times.