Curwensville Overpowers Kane 11-0 in Payback Rematch

KANE – It was the  game that the Curwensville Area High School softball team and head coach Allen Leigey had been focused on since early in the season.  The Lady Tide felt they let one get away in the first meeting that needed nine innings to decide a winner.  The heavily anticipated rematch, however, turned out to be a one-sided affair as the Golden Tide downed Kane 11-0 in six innings on Thursday.

Kane handed Curwensville their first loss of the season in a 12-11, extra-inning battle back on March 8.  The difference in the two games jumps out of the scorebook without too much scrutiny – Tide pitching.

In the first game, Tierra Shope (12) and Nikki Harker (2) combined for 14 free passes in a 12-11 loss.  Eight of the walks led to runs for the Lady Wolves, who also chipped out nine hits.   A more determined Shope walked three and allowed just two hits in the second meeting to shut down her hosts.  She also struck out four batters while allowing only one runner to get as far as second base.

“It could have easily been a similar game if Tierra allowed herself to be nervous because of the first game,” Leigey pointed out.  “She didn’t let that happen.  The only batter she struggled with was the last.  She was focused with every pitch and fielded her position well.  She wanted to redeem that first outing and did her job well.”

Shope was not the only one on the team that wanted to make a statement to the rest of the Class AA teams in District IX.  In the first inning, the seniors took control of the offensive output.  Center fielder Sarah Wriglesworth opened the game with a base hit and was promptly followed by classmates Taylor Goodman with a single, Cheyenne Pentz with a double, Tiffany Carter with a single and Abby Johnson with a sacrifice fly to hold a 4-0 lead before Shope had to take the circle.

“The whole team was dialed in from warm-ups to the final out,” praised Leigey.  “They were business-like in the pregame workouts and when the game started, they were on the fence and a part of every pitch.  They wanted this game, and went about it the way they should every game.”

The second and third innings yielded no runs for the visitors, but in the third, the rest of the line-up got into the hit column.  Johnson opened the frame with a double and scored moments later when junior Abby Dugo doubled as well.  The sophomores would not be left out as Alaina Stiles singled in front of Nikki Harker’s single that plated two for a 7-0 mark.

Four additional runs in the sixth ended the game via the 10-run rule.  After two outs, the top of the order came up with six straight hits that ended the game.  The big blow in the inning was Johnson’s second double of the day that brought home two runs.

Wriglesworth and Goodman each had three hits in the contest while Pentz, Carter, Johnson and Dugo all had a double-hit game.  The Lady Tide finished with 14 hits for the day with Carter and Johnson collecting three RBIs apiece with Pentz and Harker pushing two runs home each.

“We just have to be this focused against Redbank Valley,” Leigey said.

Curwensville travels to Redbank Friday for another District IX Class AA clash.

CURWENSVILLE – 11

Sarah Wriglesworth cf 4320, Taylor Goodman 2b 4230, Cheyenne Pentz ss 3222, Tiffany Carter c 4223, Abby Johnson lf 3123, Abby Dugo 3b 4121, Alaina Stiles rf 3110, Nikki Harker 1b 3012, Malanie Milliron pr 0000, Riley Young dp 2000, Tricia Laird dp 3011, Kealy Wassil ph 1000, Tierra Shope flex/p 0000, TOTALS – 31 AB 11 R 16 H 11 RBI.

KANE – 0

Daria Huckabone lf 3000, Allysa Gregg c 2000, Kaila Jamerson ss 3000, Tristan Hillman 1b 2000, Cheyenne Wheatley 3b 3010,  Haley Walters cf 1000, Kaila Hoag p 2000, Nikki Sluga rf 2000, Emily Truden 2b 2010,  TOTALS – 20 AB 0 R 2 H 0 RBI.

SCORES BY INNINGS – R H E

Curwensville  400 304 x – 11 16 1

KANE    000 000 x – 0 2 0

ERRORS – Goodman.  LOB – Curwensville 5; Kane 6.  DP – Curwensville.  2B – Pentz, Johnson 2, Dugo.  SAC – Johnson.  SB – Goodman, Carter.

PITCHING

Curwensville –  Shope –  6 IP 2 H 0 R 0 ER 3 BB 4 K 0 HB

Kane –   Hoag –  6 IP 16 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 4 K 0 HB

WP -Shope (11-3).  LP -Hoag.

Lady Tide Scoreboard