Lady Vikings doomed by big inning in consy
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By Nate Ritchey
nritchey@altoonamirror.com
EBENSBURG -- Glendale wasted no time getting on the board with four runs in the first.
But Conemaugh Valley rallied to tie things up before the Lady Vikings reclaimed the the lead by two.
Unfortunately, a 10-run fifth inning by the Lady Blue Jays put an end to Glendale's season in a 16-6 six-inning loss in District 6 Class 1A consolation action at Central Cambria High School.
"We were on a pitch count with Maddy (Peterson) and we used it up too quick. That was pretty much the story," Glendale coach Bruce Vereshack said of his ace pitcher who only went two innings. "I think everybody that was there watching that game, if they saw the first two innings, if I have that (all game) -- we win. We had the best pitcher but we couldn't use her. That was kind of the story of our whole season -- just trying to fill in."
In the top of the first, Jayden Fry led off for Glendale with a single before the next batter, Caitlyn Rydbom, with a double down the right field line.
Madison Peterson would reach on a walk before Alyson Buterbaugh and Ava Weld struck out swinging.
Alexis McNitt walked to load the bases which were emptied by Jaylee Beck's 3-run double that hit halfway up the right field wall to give the Vikings a 4-0 edge.
CV would get one run back when Madison McCleester, who was walked as the leadoff hitter, went to second on a groundout and then crossed the plate on a double to left by Katie Ledwich.
"We were struggling (at the start) as we're not used to playing on the turf," Conemaugh Valley coach Paula McCleester said. "We had to serve up a couple pitches just to try and get a strike in there or two -- they (Glendale) hit the ball well. I knew our bats would come alive."
The Blue Jays would knot the contest in the third as Madison McCleester was hit by a pitch, moved to third on a wild pitch that careened off a post and then scored on a single by Kylee Ferguson.
Ferguson would score when Ledwich collected the 100 hit of her career on a 2-run homer to straightaway center to make the score 4-4.
Glendale would take the lead back in the fourth when Rydbom touched home on a wild pitch and Peterson made it 6-4 on a passed ball.
The run would be the last the Lady Vikings could muster but it wasn't for lack of chances throughout.
Lack of timely hitting ended up hurting Glendale which left a total of nine runners on base, including seven of which were in scoring position.
"We were hitting the ball well. The problem is we just left too many runners on base," Vereshack said. "... If we drive in those runs, we're probably still winning that game if we hit in clutch situations. ... We had opportunities to score runs and just didn't do it."
Conemaugh Valley essentially put the game away in the fifth as it put 10 runs across to take a 14-6 lead.
Ferguson flew out to McNitt in left to start the frame but the next four batters reached on: an intentional walk, walk, walk and hit by pitch which scored Ledwich.
Isabella Winkelman singled to drive in Megan Bilak before Julia Stiffler launched a grand slam to left center to put CV up 10-6.
A walk and hit batter chases Simmers from the game and Glendale freshman Elizabeth Kauffman got Ferguson, who led off the inning, to once again fly out to McNitt.
With two outs, Ledwich was intentionally walked again to give way to Bilak who smacked a 3-run blast to right field for the final run of the fifth.
"We just persevered," Coach McCleester said. "I know they (Glendale) had to change pitchers. ... We had to be patient and work our bats."
The Vikings got a double from Rydbom to start the sixth but then the next three went down in order.
The Lady Blue Jays got a free pass to Stiffler, who moved to second on a wild pitch and then to third on a single by Winkelman before coming home on another wild pitch.
Schellhammer and Kyra Miller were walked before Schellhammer scored on a wild pitch to end the game with Madison McCleester up to bat.
Glendale wrapped up its season at 11-12 but Vereshack was beyond proud of his team.
"We overcame a lot of obstacles -- we were one game from the state tournament with a .500 record," Vereshack said. "Peterson went down early in the season and these girls just kicked and scratched and clawed. They had to jump over every obstacle there was, and we were still right there."
GLENDALE (6): Fry ss 311, Rydbom c 211, Peterson p-2b 120, Buterbaugh 3b 301, Weld rf 200, McNitt lf 210, Beck cf 201, Cavalet 2b-1b 200, Simmers 1b-p 000, Snyder dh 300. Totals — 20 6 4.
CONEMAUGH VALLEY (16): McCleester ss 130, Ferguson cf 411, Ledwich c 232, Bilak 3b 321, Beiter p-1b 110, Stiffler rf 220, Winkelman 2b 422, Schellhammer 1b-p 311, Miller lf 210. Totals — 22 16 7.
SCORE BY INNINGS
Glendale 400 200 X — 6 4 0
Conemaugh Valley 103 0(10)2 X — 16 6 4
E–Schellhammer 2, Bilak, McCleester. 2B–Rydbom, Beck. HR–Schellhammer, Ledwich, Bilak. RBI–Beck 2, Rydbom, Schellhammer 4, Ledwich 3, Bilak 3, Ferguson, Stiffler, Winkelman. SB–McNitt. CS–Beck. WP–Beck 3, Kauffman 2, Peterson, Simmers, Beiter 2, Schellhammer. PB–Rydbom, Ledwich.
PITCHING
Glendale: Peterson –2 innings, 1 H, 2 K, 2 BB, 1 R, 1 ER, 35 pitches.
Simmers (L) — 2 1/3 innings, 4 H, 4 K, 5 BB, 11 R, 11 ER, 65 pitches.
Kauffman– 2/3 innings, 1 H, 1 K, 1 BB, 2 R, 2 ER, 12 pitches.
Beck-- 0 innings, 1 H, 0 K, 3 BB, 2 R, 2 ER, 24 pitches
Conemaugh Valley: Beiter– 3 innings, 4 H, 6 K, 7 BB, 6 R, 5 ER, 107 pitches.
Schellhammer (W)– 3 innings, 1 H, 2 K, 1 BB, 0 R, 0 ER, 35 pitches.
Records: Glendale (11-12); Conemaugh Valley (18-5).