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Altoona’s Fasolo savors all-star experience

UNIVERSITY PARK — Altoona’s Lindsey Fasolo was one of a number of area players who got to play in the Pennsylvania Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night at Penn State’s Beard Field.

And the recent graduate was happy she did.

“I thought it was a really cool experience,” Fasolo said. “I’ve never gotten to play with people from so many different schools before. I thought it was really nice that we all got to come together and play as a team. It was really fun.”

Fasolo will play travel ball all summer before heading to Elizabethtown College to play softball. So, Thursday and the days leading up to the game were pretty laid-back.

“It really was a no-pressure situation because it doesn’t mean anything if you win or lose,” she said. “So, you just play competitively, play for yourself and play with the all of the girls that just love playing. I only knew two or three girls, so I met a lot of new people. It was really cool because I played against them before, and I was able to play on the same side as them.

Fasolo actually played a big part in the game for the District 6 All-Stars against the District 4 All-Stars. Playing in only the second half of the scheduled 10-inning game, she had a hit, sacrifice fly and three RBIs.

“Batting is kind of my favorite part of the game,” Fasolo said. “So any time I come up to the plate, it’s a chance to show what I can do. It was kind of what I tried to do in that game. All the coaches and other players made me feel really confident up there, so I didn’t feel like I had anything to lose.”

District 4, though, defeated District 6, 9-8. In the second game, which pitted District 6 players against each other, the Blue defeated the White, 4-0.

Opener turns into slugfest

Pitching ruled the first three innings of the District 6 vs. District 4 matchup as the pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts of the 18 outs. District 4 starting pitcher Kylie Brouse pitched four hitless innings, and District 6 didn’t have a hit until Southern Huntingdon’s Cassie Querry doubled off of the left field wall with two outs in the sixth.

District 6 was down 5-0, but it scored five runs in the fifth to tie the score. Bellefonte’s Tara Baney doubled in two runs, and Fasolo had a two-run single to get within a run.

“I was really nervous because it was my first at-bat,” Fasolo said. “But I just kind of went for it, hoped for the best and it happened.”

Cambria Heights’ Lauren Gill tied the score by singling in Fasolo.

The tie didn’t last long as District 4 scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Tori Hackenberg’s RBI double off of Claysburg-Kimmel’s Courtney Garver started the scoring.

District 6, though, tied the game with three runs in the top of the 10th. Fasolo’s sacrifice fly to left field tied the score.

District 4 scored a run off of Philipsburg-Osceola’s Maggie Peck in the bottom of the 10th to win the game, Breanna Benscoter’s sacrifice fly ended the game.

Blue erupts for four in 2nd

The Blue scored all four of its runs in the bottom of the second inning. Glendale’s Cierra O’Shell started the outburst with a bunt single, and then she stole second base.

For the White, Altoona’s Alexa Young and Montana Feathers had singles to left field in the fourth inning. Bellwood-Antis’ Madison Miller delivered a single for the White in the second inning.

Focht remembered

There was a touching moment before the game between District 6 and District 4. The jersey of Hollidaysburg’s Mikayla Focht was placed at shortstop for the first pitch of the game. And it was then presented to her parents, Jamie and Dawn, in front of the dugout.

Focht, a star shortstop who was going to play for Saint Francis University, died in an ATV accident on April 14.

Five inducted into Hall

Central Cambria’s Kierstin Lorditch, Taylor Swatsworth and Breanne James, Claysburg-Kimmel’s Ronette Claar and Bellwood-Antis’ Kelsey Shawley were the area players inducted into the District 6 PSBCA Hall of Fame before the games.

Retired Central Cambria coach Pat Stock, who won more than 600 games in his career, was on hand to see the induction of the Lady Red Devils.

Bellefonte’s Hannah Cooper, West Branch’s Leann Bell, Mount Union’s Renae Hobbs-Sucham, Conemaugh Valley’s Paula McCleester and umpire Roy Harpster were also inducted.

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