UPDATE: Solanco lost 2-1 to Hempfield in the Lancaster-Lebanon League semifinals Monday night. The Mules will return to action in the district tournament beginning Thursday, May 26. It was another memorable week for the Solanco softball team. The Mules captured another Section Two title and then prevailed in the quarterfinals of the league tournament. Saturday, Solanco scored three runs in the sixth inning to defeat Annville-Cleona 3-1 in the first round of the Lancaster-Lebanon League tournament at Garrett Park. Sydney Sturgill reached on an error to start the decisive rally. Alyssa Henretty came on to pinch run. Kate Sheaffer laid down a bunt and beat it out for a hit. Annville-Cleona failed to cover third and Henretty alertly took the extra base. Sheaffer then stole second to put runners on second and third. Bekah Borcky delivered a two-run triple to left to put the Mules in front, 2-1. After an out, Cait Armstrong hit an RBI single to left.
Solanco stranded 12 baserunners in the game, including eight over the first three innings, but came through with the key plays in the sixth. "We had our opportunities," coach Brett Miller said. "We just needed that big hit like the ones we got in the first three games last week. We got the big hit again, but it just took six innings to get to it." Mules' pitcher Hanna Phillips blanked Annville-Cleona after the first inning and recorded 11 strikeouts while allowing seven hits and one walk. After Annville-Cleona scored in the first, Phillips got out of a second and third jam by striking out the side. Last Wednesday, Solanco secured the section title with an 8-1 victory over visiting Elizabethtown. It's the Mules' 16th section crown in 28 years. "It's special," Miller said. "I told the girls they are champions and it's something they'll always have and always remember." Solanco took command with three runs in the first. With one out, Abby Heidelbaugh and Armstrong each singled. Randi Rambo singled to plate Heidelbaugh and Kalyn Burger delivered a two-run double. "It was nice to score three runs in the first against them again," said Miller. "This time, we kept adding on and Hannah made the pitches and the defense made the plays." Ahead 3-1, the Mules busted the game wide open in the fourth. Sturgill ignited the uprising with a single and moved to second on a Sheaffer sac bunt. Borcky singled to plate Sheaffer and Armstrong walked to load the bases. Liz Mowrer crushed a grand slam to left to make it 8-1. "That was just huge," Miller said. "It was a monster blast." Phillips yielded eight hits and two walks and fanned six. On Tuesday, May 10, Solanco pummeled Ephrata 15-0 in three innings. Borcky was 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs. Mowrer had two hits, including a double, and knocked in three. Burger collected two hits and three RBIs. Heidelbaugh was 2 for 3 and scored twice. Phillips did not allow a hit or walk and notched three strikeouts. On Monday, May 9, Solanco scored three runs in the top of the seventh to post a key 3-0 triumph over Garden Spot. "This was a game we had to win," Miller said. "At this point we didn't even have a league playoff berth or district berth [clinched]. We didn't have anything." Sheaffer led off the seventh with an infield hit and advanced a base on a Borcky bunt. Heidelbaugh walked and the runners moved up to second and third when Armstrong was retired on a comebacker. That's when Mowrer came through with another big hit, lining a smash off the hand of the third baseman to score Sheaffer and Heidelbaugh. Rambo added an insurance run with a double to left-center to plate the pinchrunner Henretty. Sheaffer was 3 for 3 on the day and Rambo and Mowrer each had two hits. The win set up Wednesday's showdown with Elizabethtown and locked up a district playoff berth. Phillips gave up three hits and five walks while whiffing 11. "Hanna is realizing there's a time to strike people out," Miller said. "If you make the pitch, sometimes the hitters will strike themselves out. She's also learning when to let the defense make plays for you. Her pitch counts have been coming down. She's maturing and her command is getting a little better. Mentally, she's doing what she needs to do to prepare." Comments are closed.
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