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Punxsy's offense stays hot amid chilly temperatures |
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Written by Dan Walk
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Thursday, 09 April 2009 |
Punxsy third baseman Sarah Depp (right) calls off catcher Sara Ruehle to catch a pop-up in foul territory Wednesday afternoon in Hyde. (Photo by Dan Walk/The Punxsutawney Spirit)
HYDE -- With the way the Punxsy softball team has been able to score in bunches this season, the Lady Chucks' pitching staff must have a lot of confidence in its ability to lead the team to victory day in and day out.
Behind seven runs during the first two innings Wednesday afternoon in Hyde, the defending District IX Class AAA champion Lady Chucks defeated district runner-up Clearfield in an early-season showdown, 10-5.
Monday, Punxsy scored seven runs during the third and fourth innings of a 9-4 victory over Brookville. March 28, the Lady Chucks scored five runs in the first inning of an 8-1 win over Williamsport.
Though Punxsy (4-0) had to adjust to a slower pitcher than it had become accustomed to after its first three games, the Lady Chucks made the adjustment -- and fast.
"We hit the ball, and we talked about making the adjustments," Punxsy manager Alan Pifer said. "Their pitcher had a little bit of a different speed than what we've seen lately. I think she had us off a little bit, but for the most part, we adjusted pretty well and were still able to come away with a 'W.'"
Angela Laska doubled and scored on Sara Ruehle's fielder's choice during the top of the first inning before designated player Taylor Powell ripped a two-run home run over the left-field fence.
Aided by three Clearfield errors, a walk and just one hit, Punxsy added four more runs in the second frame to lead 7-0 before the Lady Bisons came to the plate for a second time. Megan Kauffman, Sarah Depp, Angela Burke and Laska came around to score during that inning.
With the offense rolling, Punxsy starting pitcher Kelsey Cook was able to get away with not being perfect. Clearfield managed at least one hit -- and 10 in total -- during six out of the seven innings, but ended up stranding six runners.
One of Clearfield's biggest innings, the third, cut Punxsy's advantage to 7-2. A lead-off single by Chantel Read was followed by back-to-back outs. However, Breana Bowman and Megan Butler each ripped RBI singles to put the Lady Bisons on the board.
Punxsy quickly responded with two more runs of its own in the fourth inning. Depp singled and scored on a wild pitch, and Burke was walked before coming home on a ground ball off Ruehle's bat.
Down 9-2 and just a few runs away from losing via the 10-run mercy rule, Clearfield answered the bell by scoring three runs in the fifth inning. A lead-off single by Janell Zalno was followed by a Punxsy error, providing the Lady Bisons with runners on first and second and no one out for Clearfield's power-hitting Bowman. Bowman, who went 3-for-4 with four RBIs during the game, ripped a three-run homer over the right-field fence, and suddenly Punxsy's rout became a four-run affair.
"We kind of let them back in the game. That's something that you don't want to do," Pifer said. "When you get a team down, you want to put them away. They had a few solid hits, but they also had a few just barely out of our fielders' reach."
Cook, however, maintained her composure, as she retired nine of Clearfield's next 11 batters. No Clearfield runner was able to reach third base after Bowman's three-run blast.
"I thought Kelsey may have been getting a little tired, but she actually seemed like she got her second wind because she kind of came on during the last few innings," Pifer said.
Up 9-5 after five innings, Punxsy added one run during each of the sixth and seventh innings. Clearfield starting pitcher Andrea Butler may have struck out the side during the sixth inning, but Burke's lead-off double was followed two batters later by Ruehle's RBI single.
In the seventh inning, Amber Lellock's lead-off walk was followed by an Ashlee Spack single that put Lellock in scoring position. A wild pitch and strikeout later, Hailee Pifer came off the bench to ground out to the right side of the infield, enabling Lellock to score run No. 11.
"They were getting it done, and they got back in the game," Pifer said of Clearfield's slight comeback. "It's a credit to our girls. We came back and started putting a few more on the board."
During Cook's complete-game effort, she allowed five runs (four earned). She struck out nine and now has 19 Ks through 12 1/3-innings this season. Though she allowed 10 base-knocks, the junior didn't walk a batter.
"That's always a big thing," Pifer said. "You don't want to beat yourself with the walks."
Meanwhile, Andrea Butler allowed five bases on balls. She gave up 11 runs (seven earned) on eight hits while striking out eight. The Lady Chucks struck out just five times during their first three contests.
"A lot of that goes back to the adjustments. (They were) just getting a little anxious," Pifer said of Punxsy's high strikeout total. "Some of the girls were getting out early and not waiting for the ball. It's definitely a different speed than we've been used to lately."
Both Laska and Spack managed two hits for the Lady Chucks. Burke, Laska and Depp scored twice, and both Ruehle and Powell compiled two RBIs.
Butler and the Lady Bisons focused on controlling Powell after her two-run shot, as she finished the game 1-for-4 with three strikeouts.
"She had a little trouble in her last couple of bats today," Pifer said. "A home run opens your eyes. They decided to go after her in a different way."
Punxsy will have the opportunity to start the season 5-0 for the second-straight year when it hosts Altoona at 4:15 p.m. today.
The Lady Chucks beat Altoona at home last May, 10-0, after five innings. Burke, Punxsy's projected starter today, threw a no-hitter.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 10 April 2009 )
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