NTL SOFTBALL: COWANESQUE VALLEY EDGES ATHENS, 3-1, IN SEASON OPENER (March 24, 2023)

Valley Sports Report
WESTFIELD, Pa. — Athens outhit Cowanesque Valley, but left nine runners on base in a season-opening, 3-1, setback here Friday afternoon in NTL softball action.

"The girls played a very good game for the first one of the year, against a very good well-coached Cowanesque Valley team that made the state playoffs last year and returned all their girls," said first-year Athens coach Brian Wendela.

"We didn’t execute timely hitting, and left runners in scoring position multiple times throughout the game," he noted. "We also struggled to get the bunt down at key moments to help move runners.

"I think both are the result of just getting a feel and knocking some rust off," added Wendela. We definitely had our chances."

CV scored runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead.

Athens managed just two hits — both singles by freshman Maddie Hiley — through the first four innings, but finally pushed a run across the plate in the fifth.

Senior Cailin McDaniel led off the inning with a walk, and moved to third on a one-out single by junior Ashlyn VanFleet. After a walk to sophomore Savannah Persun loaded the bases, junior Addy Repsher lined an RBI single to left field to close the gap to 2-1.

CV’s Ruby Sherman, who started the inning in relief of starter Mak Surine, struck out the next batter, and then induced an infield pop up to escape the jam, and leave the bases loaded.

CV answered in the home half with a two-out, RBI triple by Katie Adams to make it 3-1.

Sophomore Jules Pack singled to lead off the top of the sixth, but was stranded at second base.

Hiley stroked a pair of singles to lead Athens’ six-hit attack, while Repsher singled and drove in one run, VanFleet, Persun, and Pack each singled, and McDaniel scored one run.

Persun was tagged with the loss. She allowed three runs on three hits, while striking out six and walking four in six innings of work.

"Savannah Persun pitched a really good game, and the defense executed really well for the first game of the year," said Wendela.

"Overall, I’m pleased with the effort and we will use this game as a learning curve to get better," he added.

Athens returns to action Friday at Canton.