|
|
Apparently, the Brookville Area High School softball team feels that way lately. It sandwiched two of its best games of the year around Saturday's blowout loss at Brockway.
Monday, the Lady Raiders beat Sheffield, 5-1, as pitcher Leah Dietrich tossed a three-hitter and the defense committed just one harmless error.
"This was our best game of the year," said Brookville head coach Greg Fenstermaker, who basically said the same thing after Friday's 6-2 win over Cranberry. "The fielding was definitely better than it has been. Leah pitched a good game and the defense played well behind her."
Brookville, which improved to 2-3, committed seven errors that led to 13 unearned runs in Saturday's 16-6 loss to Brockway.
This time around, Dietrich controlled the Sheffield bats enough to help out her defense. She struck out seven and walked just one, retiring the side in four innings. She also had a stretch where she got 10 straight batters out from the first through the beginning of the four inning.
The Lady Raiders got all the runs they needed in the first inning, scoring twice. Amanda Liebman led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error on the play.
Liebman went to third on a wild pitch and scored when Dietrich walked and kept running to second, drawing an errant throw from pitcher Cassie Littlefield. Dietrich then dashed home on a delayed steal when catcher Kerrin Swartz threw back to the pitcher.
Brookville didn't score again until the sixth. Shannon Shaffer singled in Courtney Keth and Brianne Dietrich doubled in Megan Fulmer and Shaffer with two outs.
It wasn't an overpowering offensive display for Brookville, but it had a hit in every inning and eight overall. Liebman, Leah Dietrich and Shaffer each had two hits.
Sheffield (2-3) scored its only run in the fourth on Chelsea Fitch's single that drove in Kesha Silvis, who drew the only walk off Leah Dietrich. But Dietrich did a nice job shutting down the inning. With runners on second and third with one out, Dietrich struck out Littlefield and got Ashley Barr to pop out in foul territory.
Brookville visits Ridgway Wednesday before hosting Johnsonburg Friday.
In Monday's other games:
Punxsutawney 11,
DuBois Central Catholic 3
At Punxsutawney, a seven-run second inning by Punxsutawney proved costly for the Lady Cardinals as they fell to the Lady Chucks, 11-3.
All seven of the runs were unearned.
DuBois Central Catholic (0-4) picked up three runs over the next two innings, but the Lady Chucks still managed to score four more in the game to cruise to the win.
Sarah Flick led the Lady Cardinals with a pair of hits while Abbie Heigel doubled and Brekka Stroughton homered.
Stroughton also took the loss, allowing 11 runs, four earned, on 10 hits while walking five and striking out six.
DuBois Central Catholic will travel to Elk County Catholic Wednesday.
Clearfield 6,
Brockway 1
At Hyde, the Lady Rovers were in the game early, but Clearfield was able to pull away for a 6-1 victory.
The game was tied 1-1 after Sara Anderson scored for Brockway in the top of the third, but it was short-lived as the Lady Bisons scored a pair in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-1 lead before adding three runs over the rest of the game to get the win.
Lee Ann Holt, Brittany Castiglione and Alyssa Daub had the only hits for Brockway. All went for singles.
Holt took the loss, allowing six runs, one earned, on five hits while walking three and striking out four in six innings of work.
Brockway (2-2) will travel to Ridgway this afternoon.
