NTL BASEBALL: HOMERS BY JARVIS, FINAN BACK HILEY'S 1-HITTER; ATHENS EDGES WYALUSING, 3-1 (24 PHOTOS) (2025-05-01)
Valley Sports ReportATHENS — Unbeaten Athens played long ball in support of sophomore Gretchan Hiley's 1-hitter in a 3-1 win over a much-improved Wyalusing here Thursday afternoon in NTL Large School Division softball action.
Hiley allowed an unearned run, while striking out 11 and walking three in a complete-game seven-inning effort.
The offense came from sophomore McKenna Jarvis and junior Savannah Finan, who both clubbed their first varsity home runs to help the Wildcats to their 14th straight win to start the season.
"It’s been the same recipe with Gretchan (Hiley) wanting the ball and pitching fearless, and our defense making the plays when needed," said Athens coach Brian Wendela.
"Awesome night for Jarvis and Finan, getting their first official home runs and they both came when the team needed them the most.
"It’s been a mix of girls any night and that makes us a tough team to compete against," added Wendela. "We’re going to keep working hard and keep finding ways to get better down the stretch."
Athens won the first meeting of the season, 18-4.
"Hats off to coach Jayne and Wyalusing," said Wendela. "We knew they have improved throughout the year and we expected them to come play hard, and they did just that."
Gretchan Hiley retired Wyalusing in order in the first two innings, and Ram hurler Addison Fluck retired the first five batters she faced before senior Jules Pack and Finan stroked two-out singles, but were left stranded.
Josie Ferris delivered Wyalusing's only hit with one out in the third inning, and Addisyn Bly was hit by a pitch with two outs, but Hiley induced a groundout to end the inning.
Hiley walked the lead-off batter in the fourth, but Athens freshman catcher Memphis Paul made a diving catch of a bunt attempt to start a double play.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Jarvis hammered a 1-1 pitch over the left-center field fence to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
With two outs, Pack ripped a double to the center-field fence, and two pitches later Finan drove a pitch over the fence in left-center field to make it 3-0.
In the top of the seventh, the Rams put runners on second and third via a walk and an error, but Hiley registered a strike out, a ground ball that scored Wyalusing's only run, and a strike out to end the game.
Jarvis homered and doubled, scored one run, and drove in one run, Finan homered and singled, scored one run, and had two RBI, and Pack doubled and singled, and scored one run to pace Athens' eight-hit attack.
Gretchan Hiley and Paul each added a single in the win.
Fluck was tagged with the loss. She allowed three runs on eight hits, with three strikeouts and one walk.
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IN PHOTO 1: Athens sophomore Gretchan Hiley. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens sophomore McKenna Jarvis. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
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