NTL SOFTBALL: ATHENS TOPS NP-LIBERTY; SNAPS 50-GAME REGULAR-SEASON WIN STREAK (20 PHOTOS) (2025-04-18)
Valley Sports ReportMANSFIELD — It had been nearly three years since North Penn-Liberty lost a regular-season game, but unbeaten Athens ended NP-L's 50-game win streak here Friday afternoon with a 5-1 win in NTL Large School softball action.
The Mountaineers, whose 42-game NTL win streak was also snapped, had not lost a regular-season game since a 5-2 defeat against Wyalusing on April 27, 2022.
It's the Wildcats first win over NP-L since April 14, 2022.
"It's another quality win versus a great program, that’s had our number," said Athens coach Brian Wendela. "(Liberty) does a great job and today was a game that came down to the team that executed and made less mistakes defensively.
"It was a great pitching matchup," noted Wendela. "Both girls threw a heck of a ball game; it was fun to watch both compete.
"We tried some small ball and fortunately for us we got some breaks, and we got the runs we needed.
"I'm just super-proud of the girls and the way they have bought in to the start the season," added Wendela. "Hopefully, we can keep it rolling."
North Penn-Liberty took an early 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning.
The Wildcats answered with four runs, thanks in large part to four base on balls, and two errors.
With one out, junior Danica May, sophomore Gretchan Hiley, and junior Maddie Hiley worked consecutive walks to load the bases.
Sophomore McKenna Jarvis squeezed home a run with a bunt, and a throwing error on the play allowed Gretchan Hiley to score from second to give Athens a 2-1 lead.
Another Mountaineers error extended the Athens lead to 3-1. A passed ball later in the inning allowed another run to score to put the Wildcats up 4-1.
The Wildcats did not get another hit until the top of the seventh when junior Savannah Finan led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Gretchen Schmieg, and scored on a two-out RBI single by Gretchan Hiley to make it 5-1.
Gretchan Hiley allowed an unearned run on four hits, while striking out 11 and walking two in seven innings of work to earn the win.
Gretchan Hiley and Jarvis each singled, scored one run, and drove in one run, and Finan added a single to account for Athens' three hits, while freshman Memphis Paul had an RBI, and May, Maddie Hiley, and Kendall Galasso each crossed the plate once.
Elena Booth was tagged with the loss, allowing five runs — three earned — on three hits, while striking out 14 and walking four in seven innings of work.
Athens, now 8-0, returns to action Tuesday at Northeast Bradford.
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PHOTOS BY LANCE LARCOM.
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