NTL SOFTBALL: ATHENS OFFENSE BACKS PERSUN'S 2-HITTER IN 11-1 WIN OVER NEB (2024-04-16)

Valley Sports Report
ATHENS - Junior Savannah Persun tossed a two-hitter, and Athens pounded out 14 hits in a five-inning, 11-1, win over Northeast Bradford here Tuesday afternoon in NTL softball action.

"Today was a complete team effort, and I think we finally showed what we are capable of when we play at our full potential offensively and defensively," said Athens coach Brian Wendela.

"Our younger girls are starting to respond, which is helping out the team tremendously, and it starts with Gretchen Hiley setting the tone at the lead-off spot," noted Wendela. "Now, we’re starting to get more of a complete lineup offensively top to bottom.

"Today, I tweaked the lineup a little and the bats got real hot," said Wendela. "It started with a huge home run from our team captain Ashlyn VanFleet, and we never looked back against a really good NEB team.

The girls have been grinding and continue to show up everyday and put in the work and I think the results are finally paying off a little bit," added Wendela. "Hopefully, we can stay focused and keep working to get a little better each day. Overall, I’m just proud of the effort from the whole team."

VanFleet broke a scoreless tie with a shot over the left-field fence to lead off the second inning, and give the Wildcats an early 1-0 lead.

Sophomore Maddie Hiley re-ignited the rally with a single, and later scored on an RBI single by sophomore Savannah Finan to make it 2-0.

The Panthers closed the gap to 2-1 with an unearned run in the top of the fourth inning, but Athens answered with four runs in the home half of the inning to take a 6-1 lead.

With two outs, sophomore Danica May, and freshman Gretchen Hiley stroked back-to-back singles. After an error plated May to make it 3-1, Persun helped her own cause with a two-RBI double to extend the lead to 5-1.

VanFleet capped the rally with an RBI double to push the lead to 6-1.

The Wildcats scored five times in the bottom of the fifth inning to bring the 10-run "mercy rule" into effect.

Freshman McKenna Jarvis led off the inning with a double, and scored on an RBI single by junior Jules Pack to make it 7-1.

After a walk to Finan, Gretchen Hiley ripped an RBI double to extend the advantage to 8-1, and junior Ella Coyle followed with a two-run single to make it 10-1. Later in the inning, Coyle scampered home on a wild pitch to make it 11-1 and the end the game via the 10-run rule.

Gretchen Hiley rapped out three hits, including a double, scored two runs, and drove in one run, and VanFleet homered and doubled, scored one run, and had two RBI to pace Athens at the plate, while Coyle singled twice, scored two runs, stole two bases, and drove in two runs, and May singled twice and scored one run.

Persun doubled, scored one run, and drove in two runs in the win, while Jarvis doubled and scored one run, Finan and Pack each singled, scored one run, and knocked in one run, and Maddie Hiley singled and scored one run.

Persun allowed an unearned run on two hits, while striking out seven and walking none in five innings to earn the win.

Athens, now 2-3, will host Towanda Thursday.

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IN PHOTO: Athens junior Savannah Persun. … VSR STOCK PHOTO.

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