Curwensville Captures MVL Crown With 11-2 Victory Over Damsels

CURWENSVILLE – The Curwensville Area High School softball team (15-4) finished their Moshannon Valley League schedule undefeated on Friday with an 11-2 win over Moshannon Valley to earn the league title.  The Lady Tide was able to break the game open in the sixth inning with six runs to secure the victory.

“It was the first time all year that we had a chance to win something,” Tide head coach Allen Leigey shared at his pre-game talk.  “The MVL  gives us something to play for, and the win is hopefully the first step to a successful post-season.”

The Damsels came into Curwensville with ideas of spoiling the hosts’ celebration, however, as they got on the board first.  In the second inning, Chelsea Domanick led off with a single and was sacrificed to second by Carley Kitko.  Domanick moved to third when a strike three was dropped and the out was recorded at first.  Makenzie Kitko singled next to put the Damsels up 1-0.

It was that first run that seemed to put the hosts into motion, however, as the Tide took the lead in the bottom of the inning.  Senior Abby Johnson started the bottom of the frame with a single.  One out later, Alaina Stiles drove Johnson home with a triple to right.  Designated player Kealy Wassil followed with a single to center for the 2-0 lead.

“I think we came into the game thinking we had everything under control,” Leigey said.  “I have to give Mo Valley credit – they had nothing to lose, and they didn’t roll over and play dead.

“I like the fact that we got some support further down the line-up.  Alaina and Kealy had big hits when we needed to get things started.”

Curwensville added two tallies in the third when Taylor Goodman singled with one out.  A misplay in the outfield allowed Goodman to land at third, and score on  Cheyenne Pentz’ base hit.  The second run came in after a fielder’s choice, a Johnson hit and another Mo Valley error to set the score at 4-1.

Goodman hit safely again in the fifth and moved up another base on a throwing error.  Johnson’s third hit of the game drove her home two outs later and the Tide held a 5-1 advantage.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Damsels offered a final gasp.  With two outs in the frame Tayia Swoope drove a fastball over the left-center fence for a 5-2 difference.

The Mo Valley spark was quickly extinguished in the bottom of the inning when the host bats came to life.  Stiles led off with a single and moved to second on a ground out.  Tierra Shope’s pop-up to right fell in, and a throw to third allowed her to pull into second.  Center fielder Sarah Wriglesworth followed with a two-run single.    Wriglesworth took an extra base on a throw home, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Goodman single.   An error at second base off the bat of Pentz left two runners on for Tiffany Carter to bring them home with a home run to center for the 11-2 final score.

Johnson and Goodman each finished with three hits for Curwensville while Pentz and Stiles added two base knocks.  Swoope and Makenzie Kitko paced the Damsels with a pair of hits apiece.

In the circle, Shope again was solid as she walked no one and struck out two batters.  She gave up seven hits and two earned runs.  Hannah Kitko fell victim to the Tide bats giving up 15 total hits.  She also walked no one and struck out two while surrendering nine earned runs in the loss.

Curwensville will finish up the regular season at 1:00 Saturday taking on Brockway at home in a make-up game.

MOSHANNON VALLEY — 2

Kelsey Kitko lf 3010, Lucy Baker cf 3000, Ta yia Swoope c 3010, Chelsea Domanick ss 2221, Carley Kitko 1b 2000, Brandy Keith rf 3010, Makenzie Kitko 3b 3021, Miranda Pinto dp 3000, Haley Stodart 2b 2000, Hannah Kitko flex/p 0000, TOTALS – 24 AB 2 R 7 H 2 RBI.

CURWENSVILLE — 11

Sarah Wriglesworth cf 4112, Taylor Goodman 2b 4331, Cheyenne Pentz ss 4121, Tiffany Carter c 4213, Abby Johnson lf 4131, Abby Dugo 3b 4010, Alaina Stiles rf 4221, Tricia Laird rf 0000, Kealy Wassil dp 3011, Melanie Milliron pr 0000, Tierra Shope p 3110, Riley Young cr 0000, Nikki Harker flex/1b 0000, TOTALS – 34 AB 11 R 15 H 10 RBI.

SCORES BY INNINGS – R H E

Moshannon  Valley   010 001 0 – 2 4 5

Curwensville  022 016 x – 11 15 1

ERRORS – Keith 2, K. Kitko, Domanick, Stodart; Carter.  LOB – Mo Valley 3; Curwensville 5.  3B – Stiles.  HR – Swoope; Carter. SAC – JohnsonC. Kitko. WP -H. Kitko.

PITCHING

Mo Valley –  H. Kitko  6 IP 15 H 11 R 9 ER 0 BB 2 K 0 HB

Curwensville –   Shope 7 IP 7 H 2 R 2 ER 0 BB 2 K 0 HB

WP – Shope (15-4).  LP – H. Kitko.

Lady Tide Scoreboard