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Burke strikes out 11, Lady Chucks defeat district champs |
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Written by Dan Walk
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Wednesday, 09 April 2008 |
 Punxsy junior Angela Burke delivers the ball against Brookville in Punxsutawney in this April 2 file photo. Burke threw a complete game while allowing just one run on three hits against Clearfield Tuesday. She also recorded 11 Ks. (File photo by Dan Walk/The Punxsutawney Spirit)
HYDE -- Thanks to dynamite starts from Tina Elgin and Angela Burke these past two days, the Punxsy softball team’s offense must not feel much pressure.
After Elgin threw a complete-game gem that included a school record-tying 18 Ks Monday in St. Marys, Burke responded with seven-innings of three-hit, 11-strikeout ball Tuesday.
That, along with two-run hits from both Angela Laska and Amber Lellock, carried the Lady Chucks to a 5-1 victory over the defending District IX Class AAA champion Lady Bisons in Clearfield.
“Burke’s performance tonight was just as impressive as Elgin’s (Monday). She did a real good job working her pitches in and out, similar to Tina (Monday),” Punxsy head coach Alan Pifer said. “She didn’t have command of everything that she has, but her curve was working good, and she was doing a really good job of spotting her fastball inside and outside to keep them off-balance.”
Punxsy scored first, as Laska was hit by a pitch, Elgin was walked and Burke earned a free trip to first base after getting nailed in the back.
That led to sophomore Megan McCully continuing her torrid start to her first season of varsity ball, collecting her fifth hit in three games to drive home Laska.
Though the Lady Chucks scored before Burke even threw a pitch, Pifer was concerned that his starter would struggle after getting hit by a pitch. But she appeared to be unfazed, as she allowed just one run -- in the sixth inning -- while collecting the victory.
“She got hit pretty hard,” Pifer said. “I was starting to wonder if she was going to be able to throw, but she gutted it out and did a great job on the mound.”
Meanwhile, Punxsy scored again in the second inning on Mandi Rowles, who defeated the Lady Chucks for the district crown in 2007. With Megan Kauffman on third and Sarah Depp on second, Laska’s two-run single made it 3-0 Punxsy.
“The kids did a good job against a tough pitcher,” Pifer said. “We made the plays we had to make, and we got the key hits when we needed them.”
Rowles threw all seven innings and struck out 10, but the knockout blow came in the sixth. Lellock’s double drove home Sara Ruehle and Kauffman to give Burke even more of a cushion.
“That was big. That really gave us some insurance, which we needed,” Pifer said. “(When you have a) three-run lead on a team like Clearfield, sometimes you wonder if it’s going to be enough or not.”
Alaina Luzier scored Clearfield’s only run on an RBI single by Ashley Lias.
Punxsy improved to 3-0 on the season and will have a day off before traveling to DuBois Thursday and hosting Bald Eagle Friday.
Pifer said that Elgin is in line to start Thursday, and Burke is expected to start Friday. With the way those two are pitching, 5-0 isn’t out of the question, even if the Lady Beavers and Lady Warriors are tough competition.
After all, the twosome has combined for two complete games, two runs allowed, five hits allowed and have thrown 29 strikeouts over the past two games.
“My pitchers are capable of that. As long as they’re able to hit their spots and not groove them down the middle,” Pifer said. “From seeing them both throw in the past, they can even throw better. They’ll even tell you that all their pitches aren’t there yet.”
If Elgin and Burke aren’t ‘there’ yet, then what could possibly be next? |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 April 2008 )
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GO CHUCKS!!!!!! AND GOOD LUCK ON YOUR GAMES YOU GUYS ALWAYS
HAD IT IN YOU(Suppose To Of Been A
Graduate Of 2007) - Ronda Rodgers
GO PUNXSY BOYS BASEBALL MAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE STATE'S
AGAIN AND WIN IT ALL!!!!! YOUR FRIEND JEREMY CAMPBELL
Good luck to Lady chucks softball and especially that little
sweetheart Angela Burke.YOU CAN DO IT !!!!! - Stephen Schuster
Good Luck, Punxy AllStars, especially Ben and Caleb Craig.
We are rooting for you here in Missouri.Go for the Win. From Pop and Grandma - Bob and Jeanetta
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