Towanda holds on to beat Loyalsock, reach D4 finals.
By: Brian Fees | Towanda Daily Review | May 29, 2014 | Photo courtesy Brian Fees
2014 NTL and District 4 News
WILLIAMSPORT - There was a lot on the line for the Towanda Black Knights during their District 4, Class AA semifinal against Loyalsock on Wednesday.
The Black Knights were looking for some redemption from a loss to the Lancers at the Williamsport Tournament earlier this year.
Towanda was also looking for a spot in the district final, by beating the team that eliminated them a year ago.
Towanda got redemption for both on Wednesday as they picked up a 2-0 win over the Lancers.
"They have been on my mind since that game," Wickwire said of the loss to Loyalsock earlier this year. "It has been on my mind since last year's districts."
The Black Knights know how important this win was.
"It's a real big win for our program," coach Bryan Fuller said. "I don't know if we have ever been in a district final before. We are very happy to be in a district final."
To get to the final the Black Knights, the seventh seed, defeated second-seeded Troy and now the third-seeded Lancers.
"That's two great ball clubs that we beat," Fuller said. "Hats off to our ball club. They came to play ball. When you have a pitcher like Alaina (Wickwire) you can beat any team."
Wickwire limited the Lancers to just six hits, hitting one batter and walking none to get the shutout.
Towanda's offense got on the board in peculiar fashion in the second inning.
Emily Gorman led off the inning with a single and pinch-runner Sarah Dawsey reached third before Casey Hawley laid down a bunt with two outs. Hawley was called out at first, ending the inning. However, as the Loyalsock defense headed to the dugout, the officials discussed the call and ruled that the first baseman's foot had come off the bag, leaving Hawley safe and allowing Dawsey to score.
For Towanda it was a big play from Hawley to lay down a good bunt and run hard to first.
"They struggled most of the year doing that," Fuller said of the bottom half of the lineup getting bunts down. But, we have been practicing it a lot the last couple of weeks and they did a good job."
Towanda's senior players were happy with the way the younger kids stepped up in those situations.
"It was a whole team effort," Gorman said.
For Gorman that was the first of her two hits on the day from a player that missed both the district game last year, as well as the matchup earlier this year.
"This is the first time Emily has played against Loyalsock," Fuller said. "She had a broken finger in the district game and she had a choir thing earlier this year. I wish she was there those first two games. She does such a great job behind the plate."
Along with her two hits, Gorman calls all the pitches for Wickwire.
"I thought she called a great game today," Fuller said. "Alaina did a great job keeping them off-balance and a lot has to do with Emily catching behind the plate."
While Wickwire and Gorman were keeping Loyalsock off balance, their defense was shutting down the Lancers.
Loyalsock had a chance in the second inning with a runner on second, but she went too far off the base and Towanda picked her off. The Lancers followed with a triple by the next hitter, but she was stranded.
Towanda shortstop Koryn Wickwire knew how big it was to get that out.
"We work on that a lot in practice," she said.
Towanda added a run in the seventh inning as Alaina Wickwire led off with a hit and pinch-runner Bella Bartholomew scored on a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the seventh Loyalsock led off with a hit, and it looked like they might get two on as Towanda second baseman Laciann Manning had a ball hit to the side of her. Just as the runner was getting toward second Manning was able to flip the ball over to Koryn Wickwire for the out.
"I have got five seniors on the team and four of them are in my infield," Fuller said. "Laci kept her composure and made a big play."
Loyalsock loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, before Alaina Wickwire got a comebacker to her to end the game.
"I was nervous, but I knew I had a good defense," Wickwire said of the seventh inning.
Along with the two hits from Gorman and the hit from Alaina Wickwire, the Black Knights got a hit from Mackenzie Roof as Kayla Gee allowed four hits for Loyalsock, striking out seven.
Allie Pagnana led the Loyalsock offense with two hits.
Now Towanda moves on to face top-seeded Central Columbia at 4:30 p.m. in the final today.
"It's exciting," Gorman said. "We have never been in this situation before."
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