NTL SOFTBALL: UNBEATEN NP-L MAKES FIRST-INNING RUN STAND IN 1-0 WIN OVER ATHENS (15 PHOTOS) (2024-05-03)
Valley Sports ReportLIBERTY — Unbeaten North Penn-Liberty scored a run in the first inning without the benefit of a hit, and made it stand up in a 1-0 win over Athens here Friday afternoon in NTL Large School Division softball action.
The Wildcats outhit the Mounties, 5-2, but left six runners on base in the game in a loss that snapped their six-game win streak.
"It was just a great game played by two quality teams," said Athens coach Brian Wendela "I’m proud of the girls’ effort, they really wanted this one and they came ready to play.
"A 1-0 game against Liberty speaks volume on where Athens softball is right now, and how tough of team we are capable of being. That is the way this game is meant to be played.
"We had a couple of hiccups early, and gave them an early run," noted Wendela. "Unfortunately, when it’s that high-caliber of a game, the team that makes the mistake is usually the one that pays.
"At the end of the day, we still had our chances with some runners on base. We put the ball in play, but couldn’t find a timely hit when we needed one.
"The girls have absolutely nothing to hang their heads about, and they should be proud as a team," added Wendela. "We had a really good stretch these last two weeks and our goal now is to see Liberty one more time down the road."
With one out in the bottom of the first, Athens committed one its two errors in the contest. After a pair of walks loaded the bases, junior Savannah Persun notched a strikeout. On an 0-2 pitch, Saige Lehman, who reached on the error, scampered home on a wild pitch with the game’s only run. Persun then recorded another strikeout to end the inning.
The Wildcats had their best threat in the top of the fourth when senior Ashlyn VanFleet reached on a one-out error, and sophomore Maddie Hiley stroked a single up the middle. With two outs, the runners moved up on a wild pitch, but NP-L ace Mackenzie Tice escaped the inning with a strikeout.
Tice earned the win for NP-L, scattering five hits in the complete-game shutout, while striking out seven and walking none.
Persun singled twice to pace the Wildcats’ five-hit attack, while freshman Gretchan Hiley, Maddie Hiley, and sophomore Danica May each added a single.
Persun was tagged with the loss, allowing one unearned run on one hit, while striking out four and walking three in four innings of work. Gretchan Hiley allowed one hit in two scoreless innings of relief, while striking out three, and walking two.
Athens, now 9-6, hosts Danville Monday.
——————
IN PHOTO 1: Athens junior Savannah Persun. … PHOTOS BY LANCE LARCOM.
Print Friendly Version
