NEB clinches NTL East title; Dunkling's blast lifts Athens into district playoffs.
By: The Review | Towanda Daily Review | May 13, 2012 | Photo courtesy The Review
2012 NTL and District 4 News
CANTON - The Northeast Bradford Panthers accomplished one of their big team goals early on Saturday.
Despite having two NTL games left NEB clinched the NTL East softball title with their 7-0 win over Canton Saturday.
"It was one of our goals as seniors and to accomplish this goal, it's awesome," Panther Nicki Emick explained.
"It feels really good because it's our last year," added teammate Haylie Phillips.
In the circle Chelsea Souto pitched a no hitter with one walk and 13 strikeouts.
At the plate Phillips led the way, going 2-for-4 with a double and 3-RBI while Mady Johnson had two hits as well. Aubri Mosier, Kelsey Goodwin and Monica Brown also had hits with Brown's a double.
Makaylah Holbert added 2-RBI while Johnson scored twice. Calla Martin, Holbert, Phillips, Goodwin and Brown also scored.
Chelsey Heatley scored the loss, allowing two walks and seven hits while striking out three.
For the Panthers reaching this goal shows them how far they've come this season.
"It's an awesome feeling to know that we've came above what was expected not just our team but everybody's else's and to do well," Goodwin remarked.
They've not only clinched the NTL East title but they've also gone undefeated so far this season.
"I think it's going to drive us more because we want to stay undefeated," Phillips said. "It's good to know that we have a lot of momentum going forward."
With the NTL title in the bag and an undefeated season behind them the Panthers are well armed for the final week of the regular season and beyond.
"It gives us confidence," Carlsen explained.
Athens 3, Blue Ridge 2
The Athens Wildcats had just two hits against Blue Ridge on Saturday, but that's all they needed, notching a 3-2 victory to clinch a spot in the District 4 playoffs.
Athens got started in the first inning as Jenn Wells reached on a one-out walk and with two outs Christin Dunkling hit a two-run home run.
Blue Ridge got a run back in the bottom of the first, but Athens made it 3-1 in the second as Kiersten Horton drew a two-out walk, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a Searah Kennedy single.
Blue Ridge cut the deficit to 3-2 in the sixth but that's as close as they got as Alexa Daddona limited them to five hits, striking out four in the game.
Tioga 9, Spencer Van-Etten 4
The Tigers used a four-run fourth inning to break open the game.
Deanna Hutchison had a hit, a run scored and an RBI and Dani Barto had two hits and scored two runs.
Raven Worthing had a 4-for-4 day with four runs scored and an RBI and Britt Vergason had a hit, scored a run and had an RBI, while Bry Godfrey had a hit and three RBI.
Donette Hutchison had a hit and an RBI and Sam Pond scored a run.
Tiffany Ryder had three hits and scored a run for Spencer and Carrie Schutt had two hits.
Sam Wood struck out 11, walked one and allowed eight hits and four runs, just one earned, for Tioga to improve to 11-4 on the year. Hannah Lawrence struck out three, walked one and allowed 10 hits and nine runs, five earned, for Spencer.
Tioga hosts Notre Dame on Monday.
Wyalusing 15, Williamson 0, 3 innings
Kasey DeVoir was 4-for-4 with a double and three runs scored and Ally DeVoir was 2-for-2 with three runs scored, while Laci Holdren was 2-for-2 with two runs scored.
Arielle Kneller and Ciera Holland each had two hits, with Kneller scoring three runs and Holland getting a double and scoring two runs.
Emily Faulkner and Lauren Chadwick were each 2-for-2 and Faulkner scored a run and Cathryn Pugh and Crystal Shirk each had a hit.
Faulkner struck out six, walked none and allowed one hit in the game.
Jenna Hugic pitched for Williamson.
Wyalusing is at Northeast Bradford on Monday.
Horseheads 12, Troy 0, 5 innings
The Trojans got hits from Kayla Stephani and Cecilia Morse in the loss on Saturday.
Hannah Jackson struck out two in three innings on the mound and Bethany Manley had one strikeout in two innings of work.
Shannon Good had a home run, two triples and four RBI to lead Horseheads.
Troy hosts Wellsboro on Monday.
