Williams Valley rallies to end NEB's run.
By: Brian Fees | Towanda Daily Review | June 12, 2013 | Photo courtesy Brian Fees
2013 NTL and District 4 News
BLOOMSBURG - In softball it's not always about how many hits you have, but rather when you get those hits.
The Northeast Bradford Panthers outhit Williams Valley 8-5 on Tuesday, but three of the five hits for the Vikings came in a two-run fourth inning an that was the difference as Williams Valley ended Northeast Bradford's season 2-1.
"It's exactly what happened," Hennip said of one big inning being the difference. "I thought we played a good, balanced game. Their pitcher is really tough. We had baserunners on, we just didn't get that key hit."
That was the difference in the game as the Panthers left nine runners on base in the game and after breaking through with the games first run in the second inning, weren't able to score again.
The fourth inning started with a bang for Williams Valley as pitcher Cassidy Pinchorski lined a double off the left-field fence, just missing a home run.
Northeast Bradford pitcher Chelsie Souto got the next hitter to ground out and the following hitter, Bindy Boyer, also grounded out, allowing pinch runner Emily Wessner to move to third.
With two outs Haley Nestor came through with a run-scoring single to tie the game and after a walk to Maura Kreiser, Kyrsten Miller put the Vikings on top with an RBI single.
The Panthers came right back in the top of the fifth, loading the bases with one out.
After Maddy Johnson reached on an error, MaKaylah Holbert singled for the Panthers. Calla Johnson hit into a fielders' choice, leaving Maddy Johnson out at third and Monica Brown was then hit by a pitch to load the bases.
However, Pinchorski got back-to-back strikeouts, the second against Souto, who had singled in her previous two at-bats.
Northeast Bradford got on the board first in the game as Souto got a one-out hit in the second and Bridget Haverly laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving pinch runner Mackenzie Moore to second. Moore scored on a two-out single by Angelia Laudermilch.
Both teams had their chances in the game as Williams Valley stranded six in the win.
In the third inning Holbert had a one-out single, but that's all the Panthers could get and in the fourth Souto singled and Laudermilch had a two-out single, as the Panthers left two runners on base in the inning.
After missing out on the bases loaded chance in the fifth the Panthers went down in order in the sixth.
In the seventh Holbert came up with a one-out single and Calla Johnson lined a shot to left, but Williams Valley made the catch to end the comeback hope.
"I am proud of the team, they exceeded all of the coaches' expectations," Hennip said. "We said today from the beginning of the year until now I have never had a team progress as much as this team has. They have nothing to be ashamed of at all. We have everyone but Shoes (Holbert) back next year."
Saying goodbye to Holbert was tough for Hennip.
"She's had a great career," he said. "We are going to miss her good play and good attitude and sometimes her comedy relief."
While Holbert will graduate, the rest of the roster returns next year and Hennip hopes that Tuesday's loss motivates them to work even harder for more success next year.
"I hope so," he said. "I think it will."
Holbert finished her career for the Panthers with a three-hit game and Laudermilch and Souto each finished with two hits in the game, with Laudermilch getting the lone RBI for Northeast Bradford.
Maddy Johnson added a hit for Northeast Bradford in the game and Moore scored the Panthers run.
Souto struck out two, walked one and allowed five hits and two runs in the loss.
Pinchorski struck out seven and walked none for Williams Valley, hitting one batter and allowing eight hits and one earned run.
Miller, Nestor, Pinchorski, Rayanne Hawk and Boyer all had hits for the Vikings, with Pinchorski getting a double. Wessner and Nestor scored the runs for Williams Valley and Miller and Nestor had RBI in the game.
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