York — The Frenchville Her-a-canes couldn\’t have rolled through pool play much easier than they did at the Keystone State Games. 3 games – 3 shutouts!
After beginning the tournament with an 8-0 win on Thursday, Frenchville won 6-0 and 3-0 on Friday to end pool play undefeated. Being #1 in their pool earned the Her-a-canes a bye into Saturday\’s quarterfinals of championship play.
In the first game Friday morning against the Mountaintop Extreme, Frenchville exploded for 5 runs in the 3rd inning to blow out the Extreme. The winning pitcher was Callie Lyle, who relieved starter Mandy Rowles in the 4th. Over the last 4 innings, Callie had 6 stikeouts and allowed only 1 hit.
The big hit in the decisive 5th inning was Kristine Foltz\’ 2-run triple to right center. Foltz also scored the last run of the inning on a passed ball. Rowles had the first run-scoring hit of the inning, which proved to be all the Her-a-canes needed for the victory.
Frenchville was limited to 6 hits in the game. Foltz and Holly Lansberry each led with 2 a piece.
The second game Friday was closer than the first, but the result the same. The 3-0 final over the Mt. Union Sidewinders was the second win of the day for Callie Lyle. Callie pitched the first 4 innings to earn the win, while Holly Lansberry pitched the final 3 innings to earn the save.
The Her-a-canes scored all the runs they would need in a 2-run 1st inning. Megan Butler was able to reach first base when a third strike got away from the Sidewinder catcher. That mistake would haunt Mt. Union as Alanna Luzier followed with an RBI triple. Luzier then scored on a fielder\’s choice RBI by Lansberry.
An insurance run was added in the second inning when Shannon McDonald, who had singled earlier, scored on an RBI single by Butler.
Frenchville will now get to sit out the championship preliminaries at 9:00 AM Saturday and play in the quarterfinals at 11:00 AM.
They will play the winner of the Erie Krush – Mercer County Patriots game.
Follow the Her-a-canes through championship play at http://www.keystonegames.com/softballresults.htm.