NTL SOFTBALL: ERRORS PROVE COSTLY AS ATHENS FALLS TO NP-L, 3-1 (April 4, 2026)

Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — Errors proved costly for Athens here Saturday as the Wildcats suffered their first loss of the season, a 3-1 setback against NTL Large School softball rival North Penn-Liberty.

The loss should be no huge surprise as Athens enjoyed its best season in program history last year, posting a 21-2 record, and winning its first-ever District 4 title. Its only regular-season loss was a 1-0 setback at home against NP-L.

"Today, we just didn’t have the pep in our step," said Athens coach Brian Wendela. "Playing back-to-back games in less than 24 hours ... we just needed to be ready and we just weren’t quite there. 

(North Penn-Liberty)  came to play today," he noted. "The difference was they took care of the ball on defense and we struggled quite a bit in the field today.

"We gave NP-L too many opportunities and they mad us pay for that.

"These types of games can be great for learning," added Wendela. "We will look to make things a little more consistent as we move through our schedule."

Athens ace Gretchan Hiley struck out the side in the first inning, but NP-L touched her for an unearned run in the second inning.

With one out, Clair Dominick singled and later scored on a two-out passed ball to give the Mountaineers a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the third, Gretchan Hiley struck out the first two batters, but an error kept the inning alive and allowed Julia Kaczynski to reach. 

Haley Litzelman followed with a single, and an error on the play allowed Kaczynski to score to make it 2-0.

The Wildcats benefitted from a two-out error in the bottom of the third. Gretchan Hiley reached on the miscue, and senior Maddie Hiley and junior McKenna Jarvis followed with singles to close the gap to 2-1.

Gretchan Hiley struck out the side in the fourth, and pitched out of a two-out jam in the fifth, but three Athens errors in the six allowed another run to score to make it 3-1.

Meanwhile, NP-L hurler allowed just a one-out single by senior Danica May in the seventh inning after the Wildcats scored their run in the third inning.

Gretchan Hiley was touched with the tough-luck loss, allowing three runs — all unearned — on four hits, while striking out 14 and walking one in seven innings.

Jarvis singled and drove in one run, while sophomore Memphis Paul doubled, and Maddie Hiley and May singled to account for Athens' four hits.

Booth earned the win for the Mountaineers, allowing an unearned run on four hits, while striking out seven and walking none in seven innings.

Athens, now 3-1, returns to action Tuesday at Sayre.

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IN PHOTO: Athens junior McKenna Jarvis. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.

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