KANE – In their earlier meeting, the Curwensville Area High School softball team could muster just four hits in a 2-1 loss against Kane. However, after presenting a different line-up last night – some planned, some out of neccessity – the Lady Tide rolled out 13 hits in a 10-5 win over the Lady Wolves.
Curwensville has been working players into the line-up throughout the season to find the right chemistry for the squad. However, injuries and illnesses have kept Coach Allen Leigey scrambling to fill gaps. Earlier this season starting third baseman Molly Demchak suffered a broken hand which caused the first shuffle to the scorebook. Last week starting left fielder Madi Peterman was ill, and yesterday Demchak’s replacement, Taylor Goodman, had to leave the game in the fifth inning with a possible concussion after colliding with a teammate on a pop-up out.
Despite the physical problems, the Tide found the right fit to get the job done and knock off one of the teams that they lost to earlier in the season.
“We had to shuffle things around in the fifth inning and everything worked out well,” Leigey said. “Lindsay (Barrett) had played shortstop on jv’s last year, and that was our fit. Katie Wriglesworth stepped up and looked good at first base for us.”
Not only was the defense taken care of, but the offense of the substitutes was potent. Before leaving the game, Goodman singled and scored a run. Sara Wriglesworth, who got a second start in left, had two hits, an RBI and a run scored. All other pinch hitters in the game for the Lady Tide did their jobs. Macy Palmer earned an RBI on a sacrifice fly, Rachel Holland took one for the team and scored , and both Katie Wriglesworth and Peterman walked in their batting attempts.
“We are getting thin at third base and can’t afford to lose anyone else.” Leigey said. “Hopefully, Taylor will be back on Wednesday, but I am getting more comfortable with the bench when we need to go there. I have been telling them all year that the season is all about where we finish, and we’re looking stronger as the year goes on.”
After four innings Curwensville owned a 3-2 lead on a two-run double in the first by Stacey Johnson and an RBI single from Sara Clark in the third. Kane scored two in the bottom of the fourth via a two run double by Sam Ferranto.
The first three batters for the visitors reached base in the top of the fifth as Johnson walked between singles by Goodman and Hannah Bressler. Palmer then contributed her sacrifice fly, Sara Wriglesworth’s second hit of the game scored Johnson, and Bressler scampered home on an infield error with two outs for a 6-2 lead.
The Lady Wolves added two runs in the fifth to stay close at 6-4, but the Tide offense continued to roll. In the sixth, the visitors loaded the bases for the second straight inning with no outs.
Tess Bloom reached on an error, Holland was hit by a pitch and Johnson again drew a walk. After two outs, Sarah Wriglesworth walked for an RBI and Cheyenne Pentz plated two runs with a single to right for a 9-4 mark.
The hosts added one run in the bottom of the sixth, but Curwensville got that run back in the seventh inning to secure the victory at 10-5.
In the seventh Bloom slapped out a one-out single, Katie Wriglesworth walked and Bressler drove in the final run with two outs.
Bressler and Bloom finished the game with three hits each. Bloom scored three times while Bressler scored once and added an RBI. Sara Wriglesworth’s two hits resulted in one RBI and one-run scored. Sara Clark also had two hits, scored one run and collected an RBI. Pentz and Johnson both plated two runs for the winners.
Johnson also picked up the win in the circle scattering six hits while striking out eight, walking five and hitting four batters. Johnson pushed the Tide to 14-4 on the season as she has taken care of all the decisions on the schedule thus far.
Curwensville will have the opportunity to avenge a second earlier loss when they travel to Elk County Catholic on Wednesday. “Senior Night” will be celebrated on Thursday at home against Punxsutawney in the final regular season game.
CURWENSVILLE – 10
Sara Clark ss 5121, Tess Bloom cf 5330, Taylor Goodman 3b 3110, Rachel Holland ph 0100, Katie Wriglesworth 1b 0000, Stacey Johnson p 3212, Hannah Bressler rf 5131, Lindsay Barrett 1b/3b 3000, Macy Palmer ph 0001, Sarah Wriglesworth lf 2121, Madi Peterman lf 1001, Cheyenne Pentz 2b 4012, Tiffany Carter c 4000, TOTALS – 35 AB 10 R 13 H 9 RBI.
KANE – 5
Anna Wismar rf 2110, Emily Carlson c 4011, Natalie Kossack p/3b 2100, Kalie Walter 1b 4000, Kayla Jamerson ss 4121, Serena Slugo lf 2100, Hillman ph 0000, Sam Ferranto dp 4012, Geer cf 1100, Kate Bizzak 2b 2010, Hoag ph 0000, Kelley Chilson flex/3b/p 0000. Totals 25 AB 5 R 6 H 5 RBI.
SCORES BY INNINGS – R H E
Curwensville 200 133 1 – 10 13 3
Kane 000 22 1 0 – 5 6 3
ERRORS – Bressler, Barrett, Clark; Walter, Bizzak, Kossack. LOB – Curwensville 12; Kane 8. DP – Curwensville 2. 2B – Clark, Johnson; Ferranto. SB – S. Wriglesworth; Wismar. SAC – Palmer; Carlson. HBP – Holland (by Chilson); Kossack 2, Hillman, Hoag (by Johnson). WP – Johnson 2.
PITCHING
Curwensville – Johnson 7 IP 6 H 5 R 5 ER 5 BB 8 K 4 HB
Kane- Kossack 4+ IP 8 H 5 R 5 ER 1 BB 5 K 0 HB
Chilson 3 IP 5 H 5 R 2 ER 5 BB 4 K 1 HB