Andy Close
YOUNGSVILLE, Pa. – It wasn’t the result they desired, but the Youngsville Lady Eagles softball squad showed plenty of fight in a 15-4, five-inning loss to Oswayo Valley on a rainy Monday.
Oswayo Valley scored nine runs in the top of the first inning, but the Eagles pushed back with some timely hitting.
“They jumped on us there in the first inning,” said Youngsville coach Scott Ishman. “We maybe could have shut that down a little better, but after that, we played right with them. The girls didn’t give up and I was very happy with their competitiveness today.”
Youngsville’s Sam Wilhelm crossed the plate on a wild pitch in the first inning, while a three-run Eagle second was keyed by a catcher’s interference with the basis loaded, followed by a walk to Willhelm, finishing up with an RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of Molly Helman.
Helman took the loss, allowing 12 runs in three innings of work, striking out five.
Kam Swearinger also tossed a couple of strong innings in the fourth and fifth for YHS.
“Gotta be a little more aggressive at the plate, other than that I think we’re coming along pretty well,” Ishman said. “We’ve got a young team, young pitchers (who are doing great). Really happy and really proud of what they did today.”
Brooke George and McKenzie George led the way offensively, each driving in four runs, including a solo home run from Brooke George in the fifth for Oswayo Valley.
The Green Wave had 15 hits, including seven for extra bases. In the nine-run first inning, McKenzie George had an RBI double, Laya Philips an RBI fielder’s choice, MaKenzie Mesler a two-run double, and Charlotte Austin-Keech a two-run single.
In the circle, MaKenzie Mesler allowed four earned runs in her five innings, allowing six hits and four walks, striking out 11.
