FLINTON – The Curwensville Area High School Softball Team was looking to rebound after its first loss of the season, and got down to business early against Mo Valley League rival Glendale Thursday night. The Lady Tide sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning and got back to winning form with an 11-1 win over the Lady Vikings.
Curwensville slapped out four hits and worked the zone for two walks to bat around in the top of the first and take a 5-0 lead. For the game, the Lady Tide collected 11 hits, which was a pleasant improvement for Head Coach Allan Leigey.
“We practiced three hours on hitting on Wednesday,” Leigey said. The girls got tired of hitting, but before the game I told them it was time to make all that hard work pay off. Then we batted around in the first inning. That was huge.”
Senior shortstop Sara Clark opened the contest with a single, and Tess Bloom and Stacey Johnson drew walks to load the bases. Sophomore Molly Demchak then chased two runs home with a double, and two outs later, catcher Macy Palmer singled home two more runs. After Katie Wriglesworth reached on a fielder’s choice that left both runners safe, Hannah Bressler picked up an RBI single to plate the fifth run of the inning.
Om the defensive side of the book, Curwensville again showed the hard day of practice had paid off. Senior pitcher Stacey Johnson recorded her fourth straight no-hitter. Johnson posted a career high strike out total for the second straight game as she cut down 16 Viking hitters allowing only four base runners via one walk and three hit batters. Only two balls were able to get out of the infield – both fly ball outs. Meanwhile the defense behind her committed no errors.
“We bounced back well,” Leigey said. We had key hits when we needed them, Stacey pitched well again and the defense was solid. I was very pleased with the effort.”
The Lady Tide added a run in the second with Bloom leading off with a single. Johnson followed with a double and Demchak singled in the run for a 6-0 mark.
The lone run for Glendale came in the third inning. With two outs Ciara Doughty took one for the team as Johnson hit her. Doughty moved to second on a passed ball, and after Brooke Legrand walked, she stole third. Doughty scampered home on a second passed ball for the 5-1 score.
Curwensville left base runners on in the third, fourth and fifth innings, but failed to increase its lead until the sixth. The Tide stranded eight base runners in the game.
“We left too many runners on base tonight,” said Leigey. “We looked at too many strikes going by. When we get runners in scoring position, we need to finish the deal.”
Johnson reached safely on an error to lead off the sixth and moved to second on a ground out. After the second out, Lindsay Barrett singled to drive in Johnson. Barrett quickly showed her speed by stealing second. When the throw to second sailed into center and by the outfielder, Barrett scored easily to set the advantage at 8-1.
“Lindsay’s hit with two outs was big,” noted Leigey. “When I saw the ball go into center (on the stolen base), I knew she was going to score whether they caught it or not. Luckily she was able to get in uncontested.”
The visitors finished the scoring with three runs in the seventh. Pinch hitter Sarah Wriglesworth reached safely on an error in center on a hard hit ball. Madi Peterman followed with a walk, and Clark’s single plated Wriglesworth after a passed ball. Bloom then hit a long sacrifice fly to the fence for an RBI, and Clark scored as Johnson grounded out to first for the 11-1 final score.
The Lady Tide moves to 7-1 with the win and will host an undefeated Elk County Catholic team on Monday afternoon.
CURWENSVILLE – 11
Sara Clark ss 5221, Tess Bloom cf 3211, Stacey Johnson p 3211, Molly Demchak 3b 4123, Rachel Holland lf 5000, Lindsay Barrett 1b 4111, Macy Palmer c 4122, Katie Wriglesworth dp 3000, Sarah Wriglesworth ph 1100, Hannah Bressler rf 2011, Madi Peterman rf 1110, Cheyenne Pentz flex/2b 0000, TOTALS – 31 11 11 10.
GLENDALE – 1
Ciara Doughty 3b 2100, Brooke Legrandcf 2000, Cassie Spangle ss 3000, Kelli McGarvey c 1000, Sara Tarr p 2000, L. Witherow ph 1000, Morgan Biddle 1b 3000, Avril Gedman 2b 1000, S. Hewitt 2b 2000, Stephanie Tarr lf 2000, Brooke Wilson rf 1000, M. Gates rf 1000, Totals – 21 0 0
SCORE BY INNINGS – R H E
Curwensville 510 002 3 – 11 11 0
Glendale – 001 000 0 – 1 0 6
ERRORS – Gedman 2, St. Tarr, McGarvey, Legrand 2. LOB – Glendale 3; Curwensville 8; 2B – Johnson, Demchak. SB – Barrett; Doughty WP –Sa. Tarr 3 PB – Palmer 4; McGarvey SAC – Bloom HBP – Doughty, McGarvey 2 (by Johnson).
PITCHING
Curwensville – Johnson 7 IP 0 H 1 R 0 ER 1 BB 16 K 3 HB
Glendale – Sa. Tarr – 7 IP 11 H 11 R 9 ER 5 BB 8 K 0 HB