Souto shuts down Claysburg-Kimmel, NEB moves onto PIAA quarterfinals.
By: Chris Manning | Towanda Daily Review | June 5, 2012 | Photo courtesy Chris Manning
2012 NTL and District 4 News
BLOOMSBURG - The weather may have been crazy, but Panther Chelsie Souto was as steady as they come.
The sophomore allowed two hits, and just three base runners total, as she struck out 10 in seven innings of work to lead Northeast Bradford past Claysburg-Kimmel 4-0 in the first round of PIAA Class A softball action Monday.
"I thought we played very well," Northeast Bradford coach Gary Hennip said. "I thought we played very sound defensively, we moved runners; we did the little things we needed to do."
Souto issued no walks, and the Bulldogs only got two runners in scoring position all game.
During the third inning into the fourth, the skies opened up but it had no effect on Souto.
"It was rough," Souto explained. "It was a little set back from normal pitching but I knew I had my team behind me so it was OK."
Her coach was sitting on pins and needles during the rain.
"I was getting a little worried because the ball was getting wet," Hennip remarked. "She hung in there and we got that out of that inning and it kind of settled down. I felt pretty comfortable again."
Souto did her best not to let the weather distract her.
"I tried to keep focused on the game," she remarked.
The Panthers also did a good job manufacturing runs when they needed to even though their bats came alive a couple times in the game.
Northeast jumped out early as Calla Martin led off the bottom of the first with a walk followed by MaKaylah Holbert bunting her over to second. She then took advantage of a couple miscues between Claysburg-Kimmel's battery, reaching third on a pass ball and then scoring on a wild pitch to put the Panthers up 1-0.
"That helped a lot," Souto said about getting that early run. "A lot different than last game when we came up from behind."
Then during the downpour in the bottom of the third, the Panthers got rolling again.
With two outs and Maddy Johnson on second MaKaylah Holbert singled her in to put Northeast up 2-0. Holbert then stole second where she was hit in on a Haylie Phillips double to put the Panthers up 3-0.
It was the type of lead Souto was hoping for.
"It's always nice for the pitcher to get some extra space," she remarked about the cushion.
They threatened again in the fourth as Souto hit a two out single. Courtney Coleman came in as a courtesy runner and took second on a passed ball. Kelsey Goodwin then singled into left field with Coleman trying to reach home from second. She was tagged out at the plate, though, to end the inning.
The Panthers would add one more for good measure in the sixth as Nicki Emick hit a first pitch lead off triple. Aubri Mosier then bunted her home on a flawless suicide squeeze to make it 4-0.
Claysburg-Kimmel's best chance to score came in the top of the first as Kala Brumbaugh reached on an infield single with one out. She stole second but stranded there as Lydia Fleck flew out and Hannah Claycomb struck out.
The only other base runners for the Bulldogs were Ronnette Clare reaching on an error in the third, but ultimately being stranded on second, and Fleck leading off the fourth with a single but not getting any further.
Holbert, Souto and Goodwin all went 1-for-2 while Holbert added a run scored, RBI and stolen base.
Phillips, Emick, Mosier and Johnson all went 1-for-3 with Phillips and Mosier earning RBI. Emick and Johnson scored runs while Johnson had a steal.
Martin went hitless but had a walk, steal and run scored.
The Panthers only had one error all game and it came when the rain was coming down at it's hardest.
For Claysburg-Kimmel Brumbaugh and Fleck both went 1-for-3 while Brumbaugh and Clare each had steals.
Clare scored the loss, going six innings to strike out seven while allowing seven hits, one walk and four earned runs.
Northeast will now take on the winner of District III champion Greenwood and District II champion Northwest on Thursday at a place and time to be announced. The Greenwood-Northwest game was postponed due to rain on Monday, they will play today at King's College with a 4:30 p.m. start.
The Panther players know they can't let up no matter who they play.
"We definitely need to focus on everything we've been working on," Souto said. "Hitting, defense and I need to pitch still. We need to keep up our intensity and we'll be OK."
Despite the uncertainty Hennip isn't worried.
"We'll be ready, I know that."
