NTL SOFTBALL: ATHENS OPENS SEASON WITH 7-3 WIN AT TOWANDA (11 PHOTOS) (March 21, 2026)

Valley Sports Report
TOWANDA — Athens jumped out to a 5-0 lead early and that was more than enough run support for Athens ace Gretchan Hiley in a season-opening, 7-3, win over Towanda here on a cold Saturday afternoon.

"The girls played a solid game today," said Athens coach Brian Wendela. "As a coach you’re asking a lot for them to come out and perform at a high level in sub-40 degree temperatures. 

"I'm proud of how the girls showed some toughness and came ready to play some softball as a team. 

For only a few weeks of practice and not being able to get a scrimmage in due to the weather I was very pleased in how they came and played today," added Wendela.

Junior Memphis Paul and freshman Abby Delosa opened the second inning with back-to-back singles. The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead on a fielder's choice off the bat of senior Danica May, and made it 2-0 on an error.

In the third inning, junior McKenna Jarvis rapped a one-out double, and senior Savannah Finan followed with a walk.

Junior Memphis Paul made it 3-0 with an RBI, and May extended the lead to 5-0 with a two-RBI single up the middle.

The Wildcats manufactured a run in the top of the fifth inning on a single by Jarvis, who stole second and scored on an RBI single to left field to make it 6-0.

The Black Knights, who had just one hit in the first five innings, broke through in the sixth inning on a two-out error, and a two-run home run by Brooklyn Evans off the glove of the Athens outfield to close the gap to 6-2.

Athens tacked on an unearned run in the top of the seventh, and Towanda answered with an unearned run in the home half of the seventh on an error and an RBI double by Molly Roberts.



"Offensively, we were grinding out some good at-bats and making their pitcher work," said Wendela. "We came up with some big two-out hits when we needed them and produced some runs. 

"Memphis Paul and Danica May had great days at the plate, and we had some big two-out at-bats that produced runs.

"Abby Ahern and Savannah Finan hit the ball hard enough to make plays tough for the Towanda defense," added Wendela.

Paul led the Athens offense with three hits, including a double, two runs scored, and one RBI, while Jarvis doubled and singled, scored three runs, and stole two bases, and May singled, scored one run, and had three RBI.

Finan singled, scored one run, and drove in one run in the win, and Delosa added a single in Athens' 10-hit attack.

Gretchan Hiley earned the win, allowing three runs — all unearned — on three hits, while striking out 12 and walking two.

"Gretchan did her thing and pitched pretty well, especially in those temperatures," said Wendela.

"She had a bad break on the home run, where, unfortunately, it was caught, (the outfielder) ran into the fence at same time and the ball fell out of glove over the fence. 

"However, like Gretchan does, she bounced back and pitched us to a nice first win of the season," added Wendela.

Athens returns to action Tuesday at Troy.

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IN PHOTO 1: Athens junior Gretchan Hiley. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens senior Savannah Finan. ... PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING.

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