CURWENSVILLE – The game was anything but smooth, but the Curwensville Area High School desposed of Johnsonburg in six innings by a 12-2 score. The victory was the Lady Tide’s (12-3) seventh straight win.
Curwensville had a bit of trouble getting started in the contest and had to turn the determined Ramettes away in the early going. Johnsonburg left the bases loaded in the first inning and failed to score through the first three innings while leaving seven runners on base.
“One or two hits from them could have made a big difference,” said Tide head coach Allen Leigey. “You can’t give a team you’re supposed to beat the upper hand or they might get the idea they can win.
“Tierra (Shope) seems to be a better pitcher when she’s in trouble. When she used to get behind a hitter, it was fast balls all the way, but now we can call more pitches and keep the batters off balance. She has made huge stides from her freshman to sophomore years, and I’m still looking for bigger things from her.”
Shope scattered seven hits from the circle against Johnsonburg. She struck out eight and walked only two batters. Neither of the runs scored aganst her were earned.
Meanwhile the Tide bats could manage just two hits through the first two innings off a team they had beaten 17-1 in three innings earlier this season. However, in the bottom of the third things began to click.
With one out in the frame Madi Peterman singled and went to third moments later when a wild throw failed to force her out at second. On the play, catcher Tiffany Carter moved to second base on the high throw to third. Molly Demchak quickly singled home Peterman, and shortstop Cheyenne Pentz tripled home two runs. A mishandled ball at short off the bat of Megan Barrett allowed Pentz to score and the Tide led 4-0.
“I was frustrated with the early effort,” said Leigey. “We’ve been on a mission lately, and you don’t want to cool off against a team you beat handily the first time around.
“Molly’s hit to give us the first run was huge, and it seemed to settle the team down. I have to give Johnsonburg credit; they played better and are much improved since we last saw them.”
The Ramettes picked up their runs in the fourth inning with the help of three Tide errors to close the gape to 4-2 at the time.
Curwensville added a run in the fourth when Peterman doubled with two outs, and Carter singled her home. Peterman finished the game with three hits and scored twice. Carter had two hits on the day.
The hosts took advantage of two Johnsonburg errors in the fifth for a trio of scores. Singles from Barrett, Sarah Wriglesworth and a double from Abby Johnson also helped the cause. Wriglesworth finished the day with three hits and scored twice while Johnson was 2-for-2 with two RBI coming off the bench. Curwensville led 8-2 after five innings.
After Shope set the visitors down in order in the top of the sixth, Curwensville posted the final four runs of the game. With one out, Carter singled in front of Demchak’s two-run homer. Barrett walked with two hits, and after Wriglesworth singled, Abby Dugo replaced Barrett at second base. Dugo put the pressure on the defense by stealing third and scampering home when the attempt to get her was thrown high. Wriglesworth scored the final run on Johnson’s second straight hit that put the Tide up by 10 runs to invoke the mercy rule.
“Our bench has been ready to do their job when we call on them,” Leigey said. “Abby Dugo helped manufacture a run, and Abby Johnson was 2-for-2. What else can you ask for?”
Curwensville will look to keep the offense rolling when they pull into West Branch on Monday. Due to a later school function, the game will start at 3:15.
JOHNSONBURG – 2
Danie Dwyer c 4020, Kassa Kojancic 2b 3010, Kiana Myers p 4011, Brittany Watts ss 2020, Tommy Wildnauer cf 3000, Cassie Biondi dp 3010, Elena Solorio lf 3000, Katie Galsick 1b 3100, Brianna Fabris rf 3010, Alexa Marciniak flex/3b 0000, TOTALS – 28 AB 2 R 7 H 1 RBI.
CURWENSVILLE – 12
Taylor Goodman 2b 4000, Madi Peterman lf/1b 4230, Tiffany Carter c 4221, Molly Demchak 3b 4223, Melanie Milliron 0100, Cheyenne Pentz ss 4112, Megan Barrett dp 3011, Abby Dugo pr 0100, Sarah Wriglesworth cf 4230, Nikki Harker 1b 2000, Abby Johnson lf 2122, Hannah Bressler rf 3000, Tierra Shope flex/p 0000, TOTALS – 34 AB 12 R 14 H 9 RBI.
SCORES BY INNINGS – R H E
Johnsonburg 000 200 x – 2 7 8
Curwensville 004 134 x – 12 14 4
ERRORS – Dwyer, Wildnauer 3, Watts 2, Marciniak, Galsick; Demchak 2, Harker 2. LOB – Johnsonburg 10; Curwensville 6. 2B – Peterman, Johnson. 3B – Pentz. HR – Demchak. SB – Myers; Wriglesworth 2, Dugo. SAC – none. DP – none. PB – none. WP – None. HB – none.
PITCHING
Johnsonburg – Myers 5.2 IP 14 H 12 R 7 ER 1 BB 2 K 0 HB
Curwensville – Shope 6 IP 7 H 2 R 0 ER 2 BB 8 K 0 HB
WP – Shope (12-3). LP – Myers.
Lady Tide Scoreboard:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 3/27 | @ DuBois Central | 8 – 7 | 1 – 0 |
| 3/29 | BROCKWAY | 2 – 6 | 1 – 1 |
| 4/02 | @ Sheffield – DH | ppd. | 1 – 1 |
| 4/04 | @ Ridgway | 11 – 3 | 2 – 1 |
| 4/11 | KANE | ppd. | 2 – 1 |
| 4/13 | @ Keystone | ppd. | 2 – 1 |
| 4/13 | KANE | 5 – 1 | 3 – 1 |
| 4/16 | @ Glendale | 11 – 0 | 4 – 1 |
| 4/17 | @ Johnsonburg | 17 – 1 | 5 – 1 |
| 4/19 | @ Elk County Catholic | 1 – 6 | 5 – 2 |
| 4/23 | DUBOIS CENTRAL | ppd. | 5 – 2 |
| 4/25 | @ Brockway | ppd. | 5 – 2 |
| 4/26 | @ Keystone | ppd. | 5 – 2 |
| 4/27 | PUNXSUTAWNEY | 3 – 5 | 5 – 3 |
| 4/30 | @ Sheffield | 10 – 0 | 6 – 3 |
| 4/30 | @ Sheffield – DH | 16 – 1 | 7 – 3 |
| 5/01 | @ Harmony | ppd. | 7 – 3 |
| 5/02 | @ Harmony | 23 – 0 | 8 – 3 |
| 5/03 | RIDGWAY | 11 – 2 | 9 – 3 |
| 5/04 | @ Mo Valley | 6 – 5 | 10 – 3 |
| 5/07 | @ Kane | 19 – 3 | 11 – 3 |
| 5/08 | @ Brockway | ppd. | 11 – 3 |
| 5/09 | JOHNSONBURG | 12 – 2 | 12 – 3 |
| 5/14 | WEST BRANCH |