Monday’s high school softball recaps.
CLASS A
(3) CLARION 3, (6) CURWENSVILLE 2
Read full recap at ExploreClarion
CLARION, Pa. – Maya Thornton hit a solo home run with one out in the sixth inning, as third-seeded Clarion rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat sixth-seeded Curwensville, 3-2.
Watch Thornton get swarmed by her teammates at home plate after her home run.
The Lady Cats (14-7), winner of eight straight, got behind 2-0 when Curwensville scored twice in the fourth innings and were still down 2-1 going to the sixth.
But Cora Zerfoss started the sixth with a single to left and then scored all the way from first on some heads-up baserunning when Curwensville first failed to cover third and then failed to cover home on a sacrifice bunt by Alexis Constantino.
“We had her running on the pitch,” Clarion manager Dan Shofestall said. “It was heads-up baserunning. They left third open. They left home open. She just kept moving. She did a good job.”
Thornton followed with a home run over the left-center field fence off of Curwensville’s Rylee Young, who had pitched her way out of trouble up until the sixth.
“The one thing about Maya, she always has that one good swing in her,” Shofestall said. “She squared up on it and did a good job with it.”
Curwensville had a chance to tie the game in the top of the seventh when Emily Miller and Teghan Jacobson had back-to-back singles leading off the inning, but a combination of good defense by Clarion and questionable baserunning by pinch runner Keisha Maines, helped out the Lady Cats.
Maines took a hard turn around second and continued toward third on the base hit by Jacobson. Clarion centerfielder Sidney Kiser quickly recognized this and threw a strike to third baseman Alexis Constantino. Maines then tried to retreat back to second, but Constantino chased her down before flipping to second baseman Anna Reed, who absorbed a small collision, while applying the tag on Maines for the out.
That out loomed large two batters later, when Kayli Sedgwick singled to center to put runners on first and second with two outs inside of potentially Curwensville having the bases loaded with one out or the tying run home.
“We battled at the end, and they did,” Curwensville manager Allen Leigey said. “They really did. If we just wouldn’t have had the faux pas on the bases, I think we would have tied it there. But sometimes what you get. It was a good played game for the most part.”
The game was a pitcher’s duel between Young and Clarion’s Sadie Rudesyle.
Rudesyle gave up two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out 10, while Young allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out five. Young worked out of trouble a lot through the first four innings stranding five Clarion runners, all in scoring position, including three at third base.
“I thought it was a good pitcher’s duel,” Shofestall said. You have to give (Young) a lot of credit. They have a nice pitcher and are well coached too.
“Sadie attacked the strike zone. “I thought she was good early, and she finished strong. She pitched well.”
Curwensville got its two runs on back-to-back two-out singles in the fourth.
Miller, who was 1-for-2 with the walk, lined a ball up the middle with runners on first and second that shortstop Keanna Over nearly made a fantastic diving catch on only to have the ball come out when she hit the ground allowing Kayley Harnett to score all the way from second. Teghan Jacobson then blooped a base hit into right scoring Haley McGarry to make it 2-0.
Clarion answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a one-out double by Reed, her second double of the game, that put runners on second and third. Johnna Rapp then grounded out scoring Over to cut Curwensville’s lead in half.
Clarion will take on second-seeded Coudersport in the semifinals at a time and place to be determined Wednesday.
Curwensville ends the season 11-10.
“We battled at the end, and they did,” Curwensville manager Allen Leigey said. “They really did. If we just wouldn’t have had the faux pas on the bases, I think we would have tied it there. But sometimes what you get. It was a well played game for the most part.”
(1) DUBOIS CENTRAL CATHOLIC 13, (8) CAMERON COUNTY 0, 5 INNINGS
DUBOIS, Pa. – The hit parade just kept up marching for top-seeded DuBois Central Catholic Monday, as the unbeaten Lady Cardinals banged out 12 hits on their way to a 13-0, five-inning win over eighth-seeded and visiting Cameron County.
Jordy Frank led the way for DCC (20-0) with three hits, including her 12th home run – and inside-the-park homer -, two RBIs and three runs scored.
Caitlin Drahushak added a pair of hits, while Stephanie Rossi had a triple and two RBIs.
Riley Assalone was once again sharp in the circle for the Lady Cardinals allowing a bloop single by Taylor Johnson in the fifth inning for the only hit against her. She faced the minimum 15 batters when Johnson was doubled off first on an infield fly and struck out four.
DCC scored five runs in both the third and fourth innings for most of their damage.
Laila Smith took the loss for Cameron County, which finished 6-8.
DCC will face fifth-seeded A-C Valley in the semifinals Wednesday at a site and time to be determined.
A-C VALLEY 7, SMETHPORT 5
SMETHPORT, Pa. – The long bus ride to Smethport turned out to be well worth it for the fifth-seeded A-C Valley, as the Lady Falcons got a solo home run from Kierston Rothen in the top of the sixth inning to break a 3-all tie on their way to a 7-5 victory over the fourth-seeded Lady Hubbers.
Rothen finished the day 2-for-4 with the home run, a double, two RBIs and a run scored.
Lauren McNany and Kelsie Terwilliger also got in the act with three hits apiece for A-C Valley, which had 10 hits on the day. McNany was 3-for-3 with a walk, a double and two runs scored, while Terwilliger went 3-for-3 with a triple and an RBI.
Kylie Eaton chipped in with a double, an RBI and a run scored for the Lady Falcons, while Sydney Rankin hit a pair of sacrifice flies for her two RBIs.
Katie Stumpner got the win allowing five runs, all earned, on nine hits and walk while striking out three.
She got help from her catcher, Cami McNany, who threw out two of three Smethport base runners attempting to steal.
Two of the nine hits off Stumpner were home runs, including Haleigh Lurroy’s first career home run.
Losing pitcher Brooke Kane-Walker also hit a home run and was 3-for-4 with a double as well. She drove in one and scored twice.
Abbey Woodard added a 2-for-3 performance for Smethport with two doubles, a run scored and two RBIs.
Kane-Walker allowed seven runs, six earned, on 10 hits and three walks while striking out three in seven innings of work.
A-C Valley (11-7) will play top-seeded DuBois Central Catholic in the semifinals Wednesday at a site and time to be determined. Smethport finishes 12-6.
(2) COUDERSPORT 6, (7) ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 5
COUDERSPORT, Pa. – Macy Gleason hit a dramatic two-run, game-tying home run with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, and then second-seeded Coudersport literally stole a 7-6 win over defending District 9 and PIAA champion Elk County Catholic, the seventh seed.
Coudersport entered the bottom of the seventh trailing by two to an ECC team that had struggled most of the year.
But Joplin Osgood got the Lady Falcons going with a leadoff single.
One out later, it was a new ballgame, as Gleason drilled a pitch over the centerfield fence to tie the game at five.
Coudersport wasn’t through.
Shaelyn Black followed the home run with a single to left, and one out later, Black stole second and went to third on a wild pitch.
Katie Bertrand then walked, and when Bertrand went to take second, ECC threw through to second base, and Black scampered home with the winning run.
Osgood finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Gleason was 2-for-4 with the home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Black was also 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, and EmmaRae Easton went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
Easton got the win in relief of Bertrand. She pitched five innings allowing one unearned run on two hits and a walk while striking out two.
Bertrand allowed four runs, two earned, in two innings of work. She gave up four hits and a walk and struck out one.
Brandi Clyde paced ECC going 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Jenna Weisner added a double, a walk and an RBI for the Lady Crusaders, while Josie Smith drove in a run and scored a run and Maggie Dinsmore and Marlee Schaut also had RBIs.
Michelle Gerber took the loss going 6 ⅔ innings allowing six runs, three earned, on nine hits and two walks while striking out three.
Coudersport (13-4) will face Clarion Wednesday in the semifinals at a site and time to be determined. ECC finishes the season 7-14.
CLASS AA
(5) REDBANK VALLEY 11, (4) KARNS CITY 3
NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Jess Walter hit a first-inning grand slam, and fifth-seeded Redbank Valley never looked back on its way to an 11-3 win over Karns City in a game played in New Bethlehem with Karns City as the home team because of an unplayable field in Chicora.
Walter also added a single and five RBIs for the Lady Bulldogs (10-7), who outhit Karns City 9-4 and led 8-0 after two at bats.
Lexi Holt chipped in two hits and three runs scored, while Lauren Rearick had a double. Kara Hicks added a single and two RBIs, and Kaia Rearick also had single for Redbank.
Alyssa Burkett got the win going seven innings and allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits and five walks while striking out seven.
Karns City was hurt by errors, as the Lady Gremlins committed six of them.
LeeAnn Gibson scored twice for Karns City with Taylor Ekis and Ashley Coon each driving in a run for the Lady Gremlins, who got five, 8-3, after four only to see Redbank Valley add three more runs in the fifth that included a Hicks RBI single.
Karns City finishes 9-7, while Redbank Valley will travel to top-seeded Moniteau at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
