Walters’ two-hitter spurs Lady Bulldogs
PIAA 2A softball
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MILESBURG -- Claysburg-Kimmel pitcher Sierra Walters retired the first 10 South Williamsport batters before a bunt base hit broke up the perfect game.
Yet, Walters said she wasn't at her best early on.
"I think I started out a little rough," she said, "but after the game went on, and I knew I had to put a little more into it, I did. I think that kind of showed."
It certainly did in this PIAA Class 2A state quarterfinal game.
The recent graduate gave up only one more hit -- a seventh-inning double by opposing pitcher Alizabeth Schuler -- to finish with a two-hitter. Her gem in a pitching duel with Schuler led the Lady Bulldogs to a 2-0 win on a windy Thursday at the Milesburg Little League Complex.
"I never thought we'd make it this far, and we did," said Walters, who struck out five and walked none. "Everybody contributed. Everybody put something into the game, and I'm very thankful for that."
"That's the best game she pitched all year," C-K veteran coach Mike Barbarini said. "I know she's had no-hitters in games, but her location, and the way she was spinning the ball kept them way off-balance."
The win propelled the District 6 second-place Lady Bulldogs into the semifinals against Conwell-Egan on Monday at a site and time to be announced. Conwell-Egan spoiled an all-District 6 semifinal matchup by beating District 6 champion Southern Huntingdon, 7-5.
C-K (19-4) reached the semifinals thanks to Walters, errorless defense, timely hitting and some good decisions by Barbarini.
Nevaeh Walter had a first-inning single, but C-K didn't score. No. 5 hitter Bella Francona smoked a leadoff single to left field in the top of the second inning. Francona, a freshman, then stole second base on a hit-and-run call.
With one out, sophomore Jenna Helsel laced a Schuler offering to center field to chase Francona home for the first run.
That gave Walters a little breathing room.
"It took my stress level from here down a little bit," Walters said lowering her hand from near her chin down about a foot. "It was very comforting to have at least a little bit of a lead."
From there, the pitchers and respective defenses took control of a game that only took one-hour and 15 minutes to complete. Walters and catcher Walter worked well together in the shutout.
"You've got to give credit to their pitcher," South Williamsport coach Tom O'Malley said. "She had really good command, hit her spots and made the pitches when she had to. Unfortunately, we didn't get that timely hit."
Schuler, one of six freshmen who start for South Williamsport (16-6), finished with a four-hitter, struck out seven and walked none.
"She wasn't the fastest," Walters said, "but her movement was just immaculate. She had a really good drop ball, and it just caught us off-guard."
"She had a lot of junk," Francona said. "The first pitch was definitely the one to hit. After that, you got rise balls, changeups, and drops."
C-K's hard hit balls were finding the glove of third baseman Lily Reidy, who handled four straight outs in the third and fourth inning. After snaring a Walters line drive, she earned three straight assists on ground balls.
But the Lady Bulldogs took advantage of a Reidy fielding error in the seventh inning. After Francona reached on the miscue, McKenzi Black delivered a single to center on another hit-and-run call, putting runners on the corners. It was another hit-and-run call.
"We're telling them to swing," Barbarini said, "rather than them having to decide whether I should swing or not swing. Just getting their bat in motion is like batting practice. We crushed the ball in batting practice. She put pitches where we could handle them, and we made the most of it."
A Helsel ground ball sent Francona home with the insurance run.
The Lady Mounties didn't have a hit until Aleigha Rieppel, who got thrown out by Walters in the first inning when she bunted, beat out another bunt with one out in the fourth inning.
But Walters retired the next nine batters, with only one coming by strikeout. Her defense played flawless. Center fielder Helsel easily handled five fly balls hit to her throughout the game.
Helsel, though, couldn't catch up to a Schuler one-out double off the fence in the bottom of the seventh. The next hitter, Sage Lorson, threatened to tie the game when she tagged an offspeed pitch foul in deep left field.
Walters bore down and struck her out for the second out. The game ended when Helsel caught Abby Lorson's fly ball for the third out, touching off a Claysburg-Kimmel celebration.
The Lady Bulldogs are hoping on Monday they'll be celebrating advancing to the state finals.
"We have to go into it with the same mentality and same energy," Walters said.
Claysburg-Kimmel (2): Cavender ss 300, Walters p 300, Walter c 301, Claar 1b 300, Francona 2b 321, Black 3b 301, Helsel cf 301, Lamborn rf 300, Poullos lf 200. Totals: 26-2-4.
South Williamsport (0): Alexander ss 300, Rieppel 2b 301, Schuler p 301, S. Lorson dp 300, A. Lorson 1b 300, Beck c 200, Reidy 3b 200, Cardone rf 200, Goodman lf 200, Godfrey cf 000. Totals: 23-0-2.
SCORE BY INNINGS
Claysburg-Kimmel 010 000 1 -- 2 4 0
South Williamsport 000 000 0 -- 0 2 1
Errors--Reidy. 2B--Schuler. RBIs--Helsel 2. SB--Francona, Rieppel. LOB--Claysburg-Kimmel 3, South Williamsport 2.
PITCHING
Claysburg-Kimmel: Walters (W)--7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO.
South Williamsport: Schuler (L)--7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO.
Records: South Williamsport (16-6); Claysburg-Kimmel (19-4).