JOHNSONBURG – Looking at the stat line from Tuesday’s softball game between Curwensville Area High School and Johnsonburg will show just how tight the game was. The hits, walks and even earned runs were equal in the box score. However, the only difference that really matters is the fact that the Rammettes won the game by a score of 4-3.
In the circle, Lady Tide pitcher Tierra Shope struck out seven batters and walked two while her counterpart Taylor Roseto walked a pair of hitters and struck out just five. The winning run for the hosts scored on a one out, bases loaded walk-off single by Jenna Hoffman in the bottom of the seventh. It was Hoffman’s only hit of the game.
“We just have to find a way to get Tierra some more runs,” said Tide coach Allen Leigey. “She pitched a pretty good game. By the time we get to the post season, we have to find a way to win these close games.”
For Johnsonburg, the win was a bit of payback as Curwensville scored in the bottom the seventh a few weeks ago at Riverside Stadium in an 8-7 finish.
Tuesday’s game saw the Rammettes grab an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. The hosts opened with revenge on their mind as three hits and an error led to the runs.
Curwensville (8-5) settled into the game and knotted the score in the fourth. Sophomore Riley Young opened the fourth with the second of her three hits on the day. After two outs, a wild pitch and a walk to Hannah Dixon put runners on first and second for Abby Dugo. The senior shortstop laced a ball to right that was misplayed to allow both runs to score.
In the fifth, the sunny day helped Johnsonburg take the lead at 3-2. A fly ball that was lost in the sun bounced off a Tide outfielder to allow Jenny Thomas to touch all the bases.
The visitors regrouped and evened the score in the seventh. Shope opened the inning with a base hit. Two outs later, Shope pulled into second on a ground out, and Megan McCartney promptly singled to plate Shope for the 3-3 deadlock.
Young made a running catch behind first base to record the first out in the bottom of the seventh. However, the Tide couldn’t record another out as Kassa Kocjancik promptly tripled. Leigey signaled to pitch around the next two batters and the bases were loaded. With the outfield drawn in for a play at the plate Paige Grazioli singled home the winning run with a long fly.
Young held the hottest bat in the game going 3-for-4 while McCartney singled twice in the loss. Thomas and Hollie Schneider hit safely twice for Johnsonberg. Schneider’s triple was the game’s only extra base hit.
“Riley hit that ball really well tonight,” notted Leigey. “Everything off her bat was tagged hard. We hit fairly well in the game, but just didn’t finish the job when it was there for the taking.”
The Lady Tide will be back in action Wednesday afternoon against Elk County Catholic. The Crusaders nipped Curwensville in extra innings earlier this season in a one-run affair, 7-6 . Before the game, the Tide Boosters will celebrate the careers of the team’s seniors.
CURWENSVILLE — 3
Abby Dugo ss 4011, Tierra Shope p 3110, Alaina Stiles c 4000, Nikki Harker 1b 4010, Megan McCartney lf 4021, Riley Young 2b 4130, Kealy Wassil DP 3010, Melanie Milliron rf 3000, Melanie Milliron rf 3000, Hannah Dixon cf 2100, Bethany Carns Flex 3b 0000, TOTALS – 31 AB 3 R 9 H 2 RBI.
JOHNSONBURG — 4
Kassa Kocjancik 3b 4110, Jenny Thomas ss 3220, Hollie Schneider cf 3121, Paige Grazioli c 4011, Jenna Hoffman 2b 3011, Taylor Roseto p 3000, A. Marciniak lf 3010, Ashton Watts 1b 3010, Brittany Thorwart DP 3000, Jaylie Johnson rf 0000, TOTALS – 29 AB 4 R 9 H 3 RBI.
SCORES BY INNINGS – R H E
Curwensville 000 200 1 – 3 9 3
Johnsonburg 200 010 1 – 4 9 2
ERRORS – Dugo, Dixon, Harker; Johnson, Kocjancik. LOB – Curwensville 8; Johnsonburg 8. 3B – Kocjancik, Schneider. SB – Schneider. DP – Curwensville. PB – Grazioli. WP – Roseto.
PITCHING
Curwensville – Shope 6.1 IP 9 H 4 R 2 ER 2 BB 7 K 0 HB
Johnsonburg – Roseto 7 IP 9 H 3 R 2 ER 2 BB 5 K 0 HB
WP – Roseto. LP -Shope (5-5).
Lady Tide Scoreboard:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 3/24 | @ Johnsonburg | ppd. | 0 – 0 |
| 3/26 | DUBOIS CENTRAL | ppd. | 0 – 0 |
| 3/31 | BROOKVILLE | 9 – 8 | 1 – 0 |
| 4/02 | @ Sheffield (DH) | ppd. | 1 – 0 |
| 4/04 | HARMONY | ppd. | 1 – 0 |
| 4/07 | KANE | ppd. | 1 – 0 |
| 4/09 | @ Elk County Catholic | 6 – 7 (8 inn) | 1 – 1 |
| 4/11 | @ West Branch | ppd. | 1 – 1 |
| 4/14 | BROCKWAY | susp. | 1 – 1 |
| 4/15 | @ Johnsonburg | ppd. | 1 – 1 |
| 4/16 | @ West Branch | 2 – 7 | 1 – 2 |
| 4/17 | @ Harmony | 11 – 1 | 2 – 2 |
| 4/21 | @ Mo Valley | 5 – 6 | 2 – 3 |
| 4/23 | JOHNSONBURG | 8 – 7 | 3 – 3 |
| 4/24 | @ Sheffield (DH) | 13 – 1 | 4 – 3 |
| 4/24 | @ Sheffield | 10 – 1 | 5 – 3 |
| 4/28 | @ DuBois Central | 1 – 9 | 5 – 4 |
| 4/29 | @ Johnsonburg | ppd. | 5 – 4 |
| 4/30 | CLARION-LIMESTONE | ppd. | 5 – 4 |
| 5/01 | GLENDALE | ppd. | 5 – 4 |
| 5/03 | REDBANK VALLEY | cancelled | 5 – 4 |
| 5/03 | GLENDALE | 4 – 1 | 6 – 4 |
| 5/05 | @ Kane | 10 – 0 | 7 – 4 |
| 5/05 | @ Kane | 11 – 1 | 8 – 4 |
| 5/06 | @ Johnsonburg | 3 – 4 | 8 – 5 |
| 5/07 | ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC | ||
| 5/08 | DUBOIS CENTRAL | ||
| 5/12 | @ Brockway (DH) | ||
| 5/14 | @ Clarion-Limestone (DH) |