EMMAUS – The Frenchville Her-a-Canes 18-and-under fast-pitch softball team went 1-2 in pool play Saturday but then advanced to the championship game of the 2007 United State Specialty Sports Association College Showcase with three consecutive wins Sunday before bowing 11-3 to Williamsport Wicked Insanity.
The Her-a-canes, coached by Dan Rowles and Dean Lansberry, finished 4-3 in the 16-team tourney.
In Pool A action, the Her-a-canes sandwiched a 4-2 victory over the Boyerstown Storm between losses to Wicked Insanity 6-3 and the PA Alley Cats 3-1.
Holly Lansberry of Curwensville pitched a four-hitter and struck out 11 against the Storm. Cydnee Sankey of Brisbin was the top hitter with a single and a double and two runs batted in. Ashley Demchak of Curwensville also singled and doubled, while Lansberry tripled.
The Her-a-canes managed only four hits against Wicked Insanity and three against the Alley Cats, a team from the Harrisburg area. The losing hurlers were Mandy Rowles of Frenchville and Jackie Smith of Hollidaysburg. Rowles gave up seven hits against Wicked Insanity. Smith surrendered 10 to the Alley Cats.
All teams were seeded for Sunday\’s single-elimination competition based on their pool play records, and Smith got the Her-a-canes off to a great start by no-hitting the Exton Elites 2-0, striking out six. She also had two of the Her-a-canes\’ four hits.
Then, they avenged their loss to the Alley Cats with a 3-2 victory, though held to three hits. Sharielle Wray of Mifflintown cracked a two-run triple and Demchak also tripled. Lansberry was the winner, giving up 10 hits while striking out six.
In the semifinals, Rowles came through with a five-hitter and as the Her-a-canes ousted the South Jersey Outlaws 9-3. They pounded out 14 hits with Demchak belting two doubles and a single for three RBIs and Rowles socking a triple, double and single and adding two RBIs. Lansberry singled and tripled, Alanna Luzier of Clearfield singled and doubled and Sankey tripled.
The title game was settled early as Wicked Insanity jumped off to a 7-2 lead after two innings against Lansberry, who was shaken up in a collision at home plate trying to score in the first inning. Rowles relieved in the third. She had two of the Her-a-canes\’ seven safeties.
