YOUTH SOFTBALL (18U): VALLEY STORM FINISHES SECOND AT UMPIRE'S CLASSIC (2020-07-17)

Valley Sports Report
JERSEY SHORE - The Valley Storm 18U travel softball team won its first five games last weekend, but dropped a 10-2 decision to a strong Lancaster-based Bombers team in the championship game of the Umpire's Classic here at Antes Fort Park.

The Storm went 3-0 in pool play, outscoring its opponents 29-4, to earn the top seed in bracket play.

POOL PLAY
Valley Storm 18, Krush 1
The Storm scored early and often in an 18-1 win over the Phoenixville, Pa.-based Krush Saturday morning in the opening game of pool play.

The Storm scored five runs in the top of the first, then poured 12 more runs across the plate in the second inning.

The Storm collected nine hits in three innings, and took advantage of seven walks from Krush pitching, as well as six errors.

Athens' Megan Bennett singled twice and scored three runs to lead the Storm at the plate, while Towanda's Maddie Maynard doubled, scored two runs, and had three RBI, and North Rome's Emma Repsher and Horseheads' Lexi Wahl-Knowlden each singled, scored one run, and had three RBI.

Elmira's Shelby Smith singled, scored three runs, and drove in one run in the win, while Waverly's Hali Jenner singled, scored one run, and knocked in one run, Waverly's Aubrey Ennis singled, scored two runs, and drove in one run, Edison's Bailey Mawhir singled and scored one run, Edison's Reagan Seelye scored two runs, and had two RBI, and Athens' Harley Sullivan scored two runs, and drove in one.

Seelye earned the win with three no-hit innings in the circle. She allowed an unearned run on two walks.

Storm 4, Aftershock 3
The Storm scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning to rally to a 4-3 win over the Lock Haven-based Aftershock here Saturday afternoon in the second game of pool play.

The Aftershock led 2-0 after three innings, but at RBI triple by Ennis and a run-scoring single by Sullivan in the top of the fourth inning tied the game at 2-2.

The Aftershock answered with a run in the home half of the fourth inning to take a 3-2 lead, but a two-out triple by Bennett and an RBI single by Seelye in the top of the fifth tied the game at 3-3.

After Elmira's Shelby Smith was hit by a pitch, Ennis stroked a single to left field to load the bases, and Seelye was able to scoot home when the ball was mishandled, giving the Storm a 4-3 lead.

Bennett, who pitched a complete game, retired the side in order in the home half of the fifth inning to preserve the win. She allowed three runs - two earned - on four hits, while striking out five and walking two in a five-inning effort.

Sullivan doubled and singled, and drove in one run, and Ennis singled twice, scored one run, and knocked in one run to lead the Storm's nine-hit attack, while Seelye singled, scored one run, and drove in one run, and Smith doubled and scored a run.

Bennett singled and scored one run in the win, and Repsher and Maynard each added a single.

Storm 7, Swarm 0
Jenner and Bennett combined on a one-hitter to lead the Valley Storm to a 7-0 win over the Danville-based Swarm Saturday afternoon in the final game of pool play.

Jenner allowed one hit in three innings, while walking five and striking out two to earn the win, while Bennett fanned three and walked one in two innings in the circle.

The Storm scored single runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 2-0 lead, then blew the game wide open with five runs in the top of the fifth inning in a rally highlighted a two-run double by Ennis and a run-scoring single by Repsher, as well as back-to-back two-out, RBI single by Jenner and Wahl-Knowlden.

Repsher doubled and singled, scored two runs, and drove in one run, and Bennett doubled and singled, and knocked in one run to lead the Storm's eight-hit attack, while Ennis doubled, scored one run, and had two RBI, and Jenner singled and drove in two runs.

Wahl-Knowlden singled and drove in a run, while Mawhir singled and scored a run, and Smith and Sullivan each crossed the plate once.

BRACKET PLAY
Quarterfinals
Storm 14, Pride 0
Bennett fired a two-hitter to lead the Valley Storm to a 14-0 whitewashing of the Towanda-based BC Pride Sunday morning in the quarterfinals of bracket play.

Bennett fanned eight and walked two in four innings of work.

The Storm scored four runs in the top of the second, four more in the third, and finished off the scoring with six runs in the fourth.

Sullivan doubled and singled, scored twice, and had two RBI, Elk Lake's Jenna Newhart singled twice, scored two runs, and drove in two runs, and Maynard tripled and singled, scored once, and had three RBI to lead the Storm's 13-hit attack, while Wahl-Knowlden singled, scored, and drove in two runs, and Repsher singled, scored twice, and knocked in two runs.

Smith and Ennis each singled and scored two runs in the win, while Seelye singled, scored one run, and drove in one run, Bennett singled and scored, and Jenner added a double.

Semifinals
Valley Storm 6, Aftershock 3
The Storm jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning, and held on to top the Aftershock, 6-3, in the semifinals Saturday afternoon.

After a single to lead off the game, Bennett scored on a two-out RBI single by Ennis to give the Storm a quick 1-0 lead.

Following consecutive singles by Repsher and Sullivan to load the bases, Newhart cleared the bases with a three-run double to center field to give the Storm a 4-0 lead.

The Aftershock took advantage of a key two-out error in the bottom of the second to trim the deficit to 4-3, but Newhart added a two-run double in the top of the fourth to make it 6-3.

Seelye tossed 3 1/3 innings to earn the win for the Storm, allowing three runs - one earned - on four hits, while striking out two and walking one.

Bennett earned the save, allowing one hit and striking out one in 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Newhart doubled twice and had five RBI to pace the Storm at the plate, while Repsher singled twice and scored two runs, and Sullivan singled and scored a pair of runs.

Bennett singled and scored one run in the win, hill Ennis singled, scored, and knocked in a run, and Seelye added a single.

Championship Game
Bombers 10, Storm 2
The Bombers built an early 4-0 lead, and put the game away late in a 10-2 win over the Valley Storm in the championship game Saturday afternoon.

Bennett was tagged with the loss, allowing three runs - all unearned - on four hits, while striking out two and walking one in two innings of work.

Ennis stroked three singles to lead the Storm's nine-hit attack, while Seelye and Smith each singled and scored, and Repsher and Sullivan each singled and drove in a run.

Jenner and Wahl-Knowlden each added a single for the Storm.

The Storm returns to action this weekend at the Summer Classic in Olean.

"”"”"”"”"”"”

IN PHOTO: The 2020 Valley Storm 18U team. ... PHOTO PROVIDED.