Valley Sports ReportEAST TROY — Junior Gretchan Hiley tossed a four-hitter as Athens bounced back from a loss Thursday to top Troy, 3-1, here Friday afternoon in NTL Large School Division softball action.
Junior McKenna Jarvis reached second base on an outfield error to lead off the top of the second inning, and later scored on a wild pitch to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the third inning, Gretchan Hiley led off with a single, and ended up on second base after an outfield miscue on her hit. With one out, sophomore Memphis Paul lined an RBI single to right field to make it 2-0.
Gretchan Hiley hit a batter with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, and a two-out RBI double put the Trojans on the board, but Hiley struck out the next batter to end the inning.
The Trojans loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fifth, but Hiley fan d consecutive batters to escape unscathed.
A walk and a hit batsman in the bottom of the sixth put Troy runners on first and second with one out, but Hiley struck out the next two batters to preserve the 2-1 lead.
Abby Ahern led off the top of the seventh inning, but was replace on the bast paths by Gretchan Hiley via a fielder's choice. After a passed ball moved her to second base, senior Maddie Hiley plated her with an RBI single to extend the lead to 3-1.
Gretchan Hiley struck out the side in order in the home half of the seventh to end the game.
Gretchan Hiley allowed one run on four hits, while striking out a season-high 18 and walking two.
Ahern led Athens with two hits — a double and a single, while Gretchan Hiley singled and scored two runs, Maddie Hiley and Paul each had one hit and one RBI, and senior Danica May added a single to account for the Wildcats' five hits.
Athens, now, 8-2 will return to action Tuesday at North Penn-Liberty. The Wildcats were originally scheduled to be at the Central Columbia Tournament Saturday, but it was re-scheduled for May 16.
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IN PHOTO: Athens junior Gretchan Hiley. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.
