All wins are not the same. The Solanco softball team opened the season with three victories but Friday's 6-3 triumph over visiting Elizabethtown stood above the others. Except for a rare interloper, the Mules and Bears annually battle for the top spot in Section Two. This season, Solanco has the early edge. "It was a big win," Mules coach Brett Miller said. "All wins are important but some wins are more important than others." Junior Kalyn Burger tossed a complete game in just her second varsity start. She fanned one and allowed five hits and five walks. "The walks are uncharacteristic," said Miller. "She has good enough pitch command but we were searching for the strike zone." Solanco jumped on top in the bottom of the first. Abby Heidelbaugh doubled down the left field line. Madi Sheaffer laid down a bunt and reached on an error putting runners on second and third. Maribeth Ault delivered an RBI single up the middle to give the Mules the lead for good.
Solanco tacked on three more runs in the third to go up 4-0. Heidelbaugh walked. Just like in the first, Sheaffer bunted and was safe on an error. Ault came through again, this time with a two-run double and she scored on a double by Bekah Borcky. Elizabethtown tallied twice in the fifth and added another in the sixth to get within a run. The Mules responded with a pair of insurance runs in the home half of the sixth. Leila Redmond got things started with a two-out hit and Heidelbaugh walked. Sheaffer followed with a two-run triple to right. "At that juncture, that's a huge hit," Miller said. "We asked her to sacrifice bunt twice earlier in the game. This time we asked her to get an extra base hit to drive in runs and she did that." Elizabethtown had runners on second and third with no outs in the top of the seventh but Burger retired the next three hitters on two popups and a grounder. "Kalyn really showed mental toughness, especially in the last inning," Miller said. "She made the tough pitches when she had to." It was just the second time the Mules had been able to get on their home field. "It was a maturing moment for the team," said Miller. "But we still need to work on our defense. When we're able to get on our field for practice, we'll be able to work on a few things." Solanco defeated Conestoga Valley 11-2 last Wednesday. Cait Armstrong went the distance, striking out three while yielding three hits and a walk. Combined with Burger's win over Elizabethtown and a strong effort vs. Ephrata in the opener, it was a impressive week for the Mules' pitching staff. "Both Burger and Armstrong had good early performances," Miller said. "Burger demonstrated pitch command and velocity consistency throughout the game. Armstrong showed considerable improvement over last year with greater pitcher command and speed. Both girls are competitors." Solanco scored in the first inning of all three games. Against Conestoga Valley, Heidelbaugh walked and advanced on a Sheaffer bunt. Ault supplied an RBI double and scored on an error. In the second, Redmond walked and Heidelbaugh singled. Sheaffer bunted again and Redmond scored on an Ault sacrifice fly. The Mules broke the game open with six runs in the fourth. Heidelbaugh reached on an error and Sheaffer walked. Ault produced a two-run double. After a walk to Armstrong, Borcky had a two-run double. Another run scored on consecutive walks to Sydney Sturgill and Redmond and Sturgill scored on an error. Borcky added an RBI double in the fifth. Sturgill knocked in a run with a hit in the seventh. Burger recorded three strikeouts and gave up nine hits and no walks in the Mules' 9-5 win over Ephrata Monday, March 30. In the first inning, Heidelbaugh walked and Sheaffer bunted and reached on an error. Heidlebaugh scored when Armstrong hit into a fielder's choice. The Mules tallied four times in both the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, Ault reached on an error and Makayla Pluck and Borcky both walked. Ault scored on a Burger grounder. Sturgill singled home Pluck and Borcky and scored on an error. Armstrong ignited the fifth inning rally with a single and Pluck belted a two-run homer to left center. Borcky walked and scored on a Burger double. Sturgill singled to plate Abrea Doss, who was running for Burger. Comments are closed.
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