NEB tops CV to reach district semis.
By: Chris Manning | Towanda Daily Review | May 24, 2013 | Photo courtesy Chris Manning
2013 NTL and District 4 News
LERAYSVILLE - Northeast Bradford's Chelsie Souto showed on Thursday why she is one of the best pitchers in the league.
The Panther Junior struck out 13 while allowing just three hits in Northeast's 4-1 win over fellow NTL foe Cowanesque Valley in District IV, Class A softball action Thursday.
"It was a good win to start districts off," Souto remarked. "Hopefully we can keep going like this."
The one run was earned and she issued five walks in the contest.
CV pitcher Shanelle Ianson was solid as she kept Northeast's potent offense to just four runs. She allowed eight hits and two walks while striking out three.
Northeast started off quickly as in the bottom of the first Maddy Johnson led off with a single. Johnson would steal second followed by teammate MaKaylah Holbert sacrificing her over to third.
Johnson then scored on a wild pitch to put the Panthers up 1-0.
But they weren't done.
Calla Johnson and Monica Brown hit back to back singles to put runners on first and second. After an out was made Souto hit a double to score Johnson and put the Panthers up 2-0 with runners on second and third.
Ianson would get out of the jam with her first strikeout of the game.
"It was really nice to get those first two runs," Souto remarked. "It really helped me in the first few innings."
The two teams settled in for the next couple of innings until the top of the fourth.
Up to this point Souto had allowed just one base runner, a single to Julie Brubaker, but CV's Kayla Schauer led off their at bat with a walk.
After two back to back strikeouts by Souto she issued walks to Ianson and Earl, loading the bases.
She would get out of the jam with her ninth strikeout of the contest.
"I just couldn't find my snap," Souto explained. "I just wasn't hitting my mark as much as I wish I was."
The Panthers threatened in the bottom half of the inning as with one out Souto singled. After another out was recorded Angelia Laudermilch hit a double down the left field line.
Souto's courtesy runner Shelby Park looked to score but the officials ruled the ball went out of play before Park crossed third.
CV was able to get out of the jam with out giving up a run as Ianson got Julia Williams to ground out.
Nobody threatened again until the top of the sixth.
Kayla Schauer led off with another walk with Courtney Schauer moving her over to second on a sacrifice.
Kayla Schauer continued to third on a fielder's choice but the Indians had two outs on them.
That's when Ianson hit a ground rule double to bring in Kayla Schauer and cut the Panther lead to 2-1.
Whitney Earl kept the rally alive with a single to put runners on first and third but Souto got out of the inning with a strikeout.
That not only stopped CV's momentum but gave Northeast some of their own.
They used that in the bottom half of the inning as Brown led off with a single. She was a sacrificed over by Courtney Coleman followed by Souto and Bridget Haverly walking to load the bases with one out.
That's when Laudermilch came through, this time with a 2-run single to push the lead to 4-1.
"It was really good," Laudermilch said about her 2-run single. "I just went up and tried to do the best I could. I saw the girl was playing kind of far back so I tried to hit a grounder the third time."
Her line drive dropped in between the outfielders and allowed the two runners to score.
Those runs were key as they gave Northeast some breathing room in a tight ball game.
"That kind of helped me again," Souto said about getting those runs back.
A wild pitch moved the Panther runners up to second and third. They looked to add to their lead as Haverly tried to steal home off a ground ball to the shortstop Becky Plummer but Plummer threw her out at home to keep it a 3-run deficit.
CV would get out of the inning without any more damage done but they were down to their three outs.
Having been in this situation before Souto went to work, striking out the first two batters. Plummer forced a walk but Souto got the final out when Kayla Schauer flied out to her.
Souto was strong at the plate as well as the circle, going 2-for-2 with an RBI while Brown (2-for-3) and Laudermilch (2-for-3) also had strong days at the plate. Laudermilch added 2-RBI.
"It felt really nice to hit the ball and help my team out that way, too," Souto said.
Ianson, Earl and Brubaker had the three CV hits with Kayla Schauer scoring their lone run.
Northeast, who will face South Williamsport, a 3-0 winner over Montgomery, in the semi-finals next Tuesday down at Elm Park, is confident this is the beginning of another long playoff run.
"I feel like we'll have another good game like this," Souto remarked. "I feel like were going to play good competition but I feel like we have a really good team. We've been hitting really well."
While most of Northeast's players are used to success in the post season this is Laudermilch's first time and she's enjoying it as much as she can.
"It's really exciting," she said. "I haven't really played softball all that much so it's fun. I want to go as far as we can."
