NTL SOFTBALL: HILEY'S 1-HITTER, PAULS HOMER LIFTS UNBEATEN ATHENS TO 1-0 WIN OVER TROY (22 PHOTOS) (2025-04-24)
Valley Sports ReportEAST TROY — Sophomore Gretchan Hiley pitched her fourth shutout of the season — a one-hit gem, and freshman Memphis Paul provided the offense to lead Athens to a 1-0 win over Troy here Thursday afternoon in NTL Large School softball action.
Hiley, who has not allowed an earned run in 33 innings, fanned 13 and walked four in the win.
With the win, unbeaten Athens (10-0) improves to 6-0 in league play — one game ahead of North Penn-Liberty (7-1, 5-1). Troy falls to 4-3 in league play, and 6-3 overall.
“Our bats were sleeping a bit on us," said Athens coach Brian Wendela. “This was a playoff feeling game. And it’ll always be a good game against Troy.
"It was nice to see our freshmen, Memphis (Paul), step up," noted Wendela. "She was struggling a little bit at the bat. We have lots of confidence in our girls.”
Wendela was also impressed with Troy.
“This (Troy) team is going to be a good playoff team,” said Wendela. “And they're going to make some noise and represent our district and the NTL very well.
"We knew they were tough," he added. "The girls were ready for it, and we got the big hit and took advantage of it.”
The Trojans threatened in the first inning, loading the bases with one out on two walks and an error, but Hiley struck out the final two batters of the inning to leave the bases loaded.
Hiley pitched around two more and two more base on balls through the first five innings, as well as a two-out single in the fourth inning, but escaped unscathed each time.
Hiley retired the final eight hitters she faced in the game.
Athens, meanwhile, had just two hits — a lead-off single by Paul in the second inning, and a lead-ff double by senior Ella Coyle in the fifth inning — through the first six innings.
With one out in the top of the seventh, Paul drove a 1-1 pitch over the center-field fence to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
Athens, now 10-0, will face Berwick and Central Columbia Saturday at the Central Columbia Tournament.
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IN PHOTO 1: Athens sophomore Gretchan Hiley. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens freshman Memphis Paul. ... PHOTOS BT CHRIS MANNING.
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