by Bud Hart Cedar Cliff, the 10th seed, scored two runs in the first inning and one in the sixth to end Solanco’s quest for a District championship by saddling the Mules with a 3-1 loss on Friday, May 26. Solanco’s only run occurred in the bottom of the sixth when Randi Rambo drove in Abby Heidelbaugh with a single. Both teams played errorless ball with the Colts out hitting the Mules 6-5. Avery Winchell went the distance for CC striking out five while walking two. Hanna Phillips also went the distance inside the circle striking out six, but walking four.
Solanco will continue play to determine who earns the fifth spot in the state championship. Daniel Boone, the 11th seed, will be their opponent. The loss came after Solanco's decisive victory of Muhlenberg. Holding a slim 1-0 lead over 15th seed Muhlenberg going into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Golden Mules erupted for nine runs in their half of the inning to send the Mules back to Berks County with a mercy rule 10-0 loss on Tuesday, May 23. The inning featured two, two-run home runs off the bats of juniors Liz Mowrer and Ally McDowell and a deep drive to left by Kara McClune to plate the 10th run sending Solanco into the District III, 5A, quarterfinals, against Cedar Cliff. Cedar Cliff, the 10th seed, defeated seventh seed Twin Valley by a 6-4 nod to earn the right to visit the Solanco pasture. “We had some good at bats in the earlier innings, then our bats exploded in the fifth, collecting nine hits including Mowrer and McDowell’s big blasts,” said head coach Brett Miller. “Always encouraging having hitting up and down the lineup and everyone contributing makes us a challenge.” The Golden Mules scored in the bottom of the first when leadoff hitter, Heidelbaugh blasted the second pitch into right center for a triple. With one out Solanco’s number three hitter, shortstop, Randi Rambo, sent a sharp ground ball to the third baseman who bobbled the ball allowing Heidelbaugh to score the first Mule run. That run held up and until the fifth as the Solanco bats were silenced, largely due to a nasty change up that Muhlenberg’s pitcher used effectively early and then failed to use later, much to the delight of the Solanco hitters. The Mules advanced a runner to third in the bottom of the fourth, but with two outs the Muhlenberg second baseman made an outstanding diving catch of a sinking liner to end the Mule threat. In the bottom of the fifth the heroics began when Kate Sheaffer laid down a perfect first-pitch bunt single. Heidelbaugh followed with a single and McClune advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Rambo drove one deep to center to score Sheaffer on a sac fly. With two outs, Mowrer, on a 2-2 count, sent one deep in the left center field gap for a two run blast. Kayla May dropped in a Texas league single to keep the rally alive and McDowell crushed one deep down the left field foul pole that fell inches inside fair territory scoring May before McDowell crossed home plate with the second two-run blast in the inning. With the score 6-0 Mules, Lindsey Lane continued the rally with a single off the third baseman’s glove, who threw wildly allowing Lane to advance to second. Alyssa Henretty singled to left plating Albrea Doss, Solanco’s courtesy runner. Sheaffer executed another picture perfect bunt single, her second in the inning and Heidelbaugh, who was perfect on the day (two for two), lined a shot to right for a double, plating Sheaffer. McClune ended Muhlenberg’s pain when she sent one deep to left that tipped off the left fielder’s glove, driving in Heidelbaugh for the ninth run of the inning. Phillips dominated inside the circle. The sophomore windmiller retired the visitors in order in the first and second inning and gave up only one hit, a fifth inning single to right. Phillips struck out nine and walked two. Not one Muhlenberg baserunner advanced past second base and not one Solanco outfielder recorded a putout. “Hanna limited them to one hit and nine strikeouts,” added Miller. “It was a solid result against a District team with a few strong hitters.” Comments are closed.
|
Archives
August 2023
Categories
All
|