NPL falls in heartbreaker, 2-1.
By: Coy Gobble | Towanda Daily Review | June 6, 2017
2017 NTL and District 4 News
WILKES-BARRE — North Penn-Liberty lost to Mid-Valley 2-1 in the first round of the Class AAA, PIAA state softball tournament on Monday evening at Wilkes University.
Mid-Valley wasted no time getting started. In the first inning, their leadoff hitter bunted for an infield single, then later scored on a sacrifice fly to take an early 1-0 lead.
NPL also got their first batter, Carmen Bates, on base, but couldn't bring her across to score. Mid-Valley kept NPL in check for the next five innings, only allowing a runner on base in the fifth and six innings.
In the fifth inning, Mid-Valley went up 2-0 after their second baseman hit a single, stole second, and then scored on another single.
But NPL kept chomping at the bit.
In the sixth inning, down 2-0, Mariah Kshir led off the inning with a single up the middle. After two strikeouts, NPL pitcher Savanah Doney hit a single up the middle to put runners on first and second.
But the inning would end after Marissa Heater lined out to the shortstop.
Down 2-0, NPL had one last shot in the seventh inning to take the game from Mid-Valley.
After two groundouts, NPL's Lauren Smith hit a grass-burning single up the middle to keep the game and season alive. Smith advanced to second on a overthrow back to the pitcher.
The next batter, Jill Berguson, fought through a inside pitch on the hands and hit a single up the third baseline, scoring Smith.
With the game now 2-1 and a runner on first, NPL had new life, but couldn't capitalize.
The next batter, Kshir, grounded out the third basemen to end the game, 2-1.
"It was a fun game," NPL co-head coach Lynn Grinnell said. "They played a great game. We didn't hit the ball as well as we expected, but it was against a very, very good Mid-Valley team. These kids now know what it takes to win, and they'll learn."
"All season (Doney) has been huge for us," Grinnell continued. "She is a special young lady. She's phenomenal, she's kept us in games all year long. She's only a sophomore and is only going to get better. She's the leading hitter on the team and also the leading pitcher. We've played two teams to the end that are perennial state contenders now and we've played well. The girls are hanging their heads high and they're proud to be here, and they're going to be here next year."
Doney finished her night with four strikeouts, allowing two runs on five hits in six innings of work.
