Troy tops Wyalusing to win NTL East softball title.
By: Brian Fees | Towanda Daily Review | May 18, 2013 | Photo courtesy Brian Fees
2013 NTL and District 4 News
EAST TROY - When Taylor Murray made contact with the ball one thing went through her mind.
Troy and Wyalusing were tied at one in the bottom of the sixth inning, the NTL East softball title on the line.
With runners on second and third Murray lined a shot through the right side into the outfield, but Murray wasn't thinking about the win, she had something simpler in mind.
"After I hit it I felt I needed to get to first base so the runs would count," Murray said.
And as Murray touched first base the smile flashed across her face as she realized she just had the biggest hit of her life, a hit that helped the Troy Trojans to a 3-1 win and the NTL East title.
"It was really exciting," she said. "Especially with two outs left."
For Troy this week hadn't gone the way they had hoped, dropping back-to-back games to Athens and Wellsboro, but they believed they would play better on Thursday.
"I thought we could bounce back," Troy senior Kelly Bridgham said. "We didn't play our best games the last couple games. Today, both teams played great."
"We had a couple of rough outings," Troy coach Brian Canfield said. "It comes down to our senior leadership and they did a good job. Our four co-captains did a good job. They may not be the most athletic kids, but they play with a lot of heart."
Troy got off to a good start on Thursday as Kelsey Bristol led off with a single and Faith Ceely hit a fielder's choice with both runners ending up safe.
With one out the runners were on second and third and Bridgham delivered a single to bring home the run.
A nice double play by Wyalusing with second-baseman Ally DeVoir catching Ceely off third base in a run down and then racing back up toward second and throwing to her sister Kasey to get the second out got the Rams out of the inning.
"We had a lot of baserunners early and we couldn't get the hit to get them in," Canfield said. "Wyalusing played really good defense as well."
In the second inning Troy again had runners on base after Schucker and Brooke Mattocks each reached on an error, but Wyalusing got out of the jam.
While Troy only got one run those first couple innings, the players knew it was crucial to play with the early lead.
"It was huge to get that first run, it gave us a lot of confidence," Bridgham said.
"It was pretty important to get that run," Schucker said.
The one run lead held until the sixth inning when Mackenzie Martin led off with a triple and her sister Paighton hit a bunt that drove Martin home.
"Wyalusing is a good team, it's tough to beat them," Canfield said.
This game was like the last time the two teams played when the Trojans took a 4-0 lead, only to see Wyalusing fight back and get within a run.
"They do a good job of battling back," Bridgham said. "But, we had confidence we could come back."
Heading to the bottom of the sixth inning the Trojans knew they needed to get some runs back on the board.
"It was pretty late in the game, we had to get some runs," Murray said.
It was Bridgham who started out the sixth inning with a single and Tiffani Mattocks followed with a single setting the stage for Murray.
"It felt pretty good," Bridgham said of the hit. "I felt like I had been hitting well all game."
When Murray made contact with the two-out pitch the Troy players knew they had the lead.
"I knew it was a hit as soon as it came off the bat," Bridgham said. "There was a lot of excitement when she hit that ball."
"We knew right away," Schucker added.
With a two-run lead heading into the seventh inning the Trojans knew they were three outs away from the victory.
"We felt pretty good, all we had to do was hold them," Murray said.
The final out came on a ground ball back to Schucker on the mound and she could start to feel the nerves as she made the throw to first.
"It was nerve-racking, I thought I was going to overthrow it," she said.
Just like her performance all day Schucker was on the mark with the throw and the Trojans claimed the NTL East title, a year after winning the NTL West title.
"Kara Schucker, I can't say enough about her performance," Canfield said. "And, Kelly did a great job of catching her."
Schucker threw a one-hitter for the Trojans, striking out four and walking just one to get the victory.
Bridgham keyed the Trojans offense with a 3-for-3 day with a run scored and an RBI.
For the two seniors this was the perfect cap to the season, and a nice confidence boost as they prepare for the start of districts next week.
"It feels great, we had a little bit of a rough week," Bridgham said. "This is a huge confidence boost going into districts."
Murray had two hits in the day with the two RBI and Bristol had a hit and scored a run, while Tiffani Mattocks had a hit and scored a run.
Taylor Johnston added a hit for Troy in the game. Mackenzie Martin had the triple and a run scored and Paighton Martin had an RBI.
Emily Faulkner pitched for Wyalusing, striking out one, walking none and allowing eight hits.
Both teams are headed to districts, which begin next week. District match ups should be announced on Sunday.
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