In their PIAA first-round game, the Elizabeth Forward softball team got off to a quick start. On Thursday, however, the Warriors failed to do so, and District 10 champion Harbor Creek did.
The Huskies scored five combined runs in the first two innings and used a grand slam in the fourth to pull away from the WPIAL champion Warriors for a 10-3 state quarterfinal win at Mohawk High School.
“Just overall, we fell behind early. They put up five runs pretty quick and we were unable to get that key hit. I think we had the bases loaded two or three times,” EF coach Harry Rutherford said. “We just weren’t able to get the barrel on the ball when we needed to most.”
The Huskies (19-5) took a 2-0 lead before the Warriors stepped in the batter’s box, knocking EF starter Berlyn Holibaugh out of the game after only a third of an inning.
“Berlyn got off to a bit of a bad start and didn’t have the command today,” Rutherford said. “She missed some spots early and didn’t really have the command. They had her timed up.”
Brooklynn Cipalla walked to start the game before a sacrifice bunt moved her up. The speedster didn’t just stop at first though, ending up at third. Following a pair of walks, Bresee drove in the first two runs of the game on a single to left.
After Holibaugh was removed, Julia Resnik was able to get out of the inning by striking out Mariah Anderson.
Holibaugh didn’t allow a hit, but was tagged with both earned runs and three walks in her abbreviated performance.
The Huskies worked around a one-out error to retire the Warriors in the bottom of the first, and again took advantage in the top of the second.
Arianna Denning and Cipalla each singled with one out. After a line out for the second out of the frame, Addison Lucas doubled to left to score Cipalla and Denning.
Lacie Fortin followed with an RBI single to score Lucas’ courtesy runner to make it 5-0 before Resnik got Bresee to fly out to center.
The Warriors looked poised to strike in the bottom of the third as Samantha Malek walked and Holibaugh singled to left for her team’s first hit. But a pair of fielder’s choices to third for force outs sandwiched around an Addy Nigut lineout to short ended the threat.
“We did find out they have a very good third baseman,” Rutherford said. “She gobbled everything up over there and made the plays that needed to be made.”
The Warriors could have used those runs as things got out of hand in the top of the fourth.
Denning led off and reached on an error, moving to second on a groundout by Cipalla. Kayla Gossage singled and Lucas walked to load the bases for Fortin.
Sitting in a hitter’s count at 2-0 against Resnik in the circle, Fortin hammered a line-drive grand slam to center field to make it 9-0. Resnik threw three innings of relief and was charged with seven runs (six earned) on seven hits with a walk and a strikeout.
“We were quick going to Jules, but she didn’t have a lot of game experience in the circle this year either,” Rutherford said. “We just felt like we needed to make that change when we did.”
EF tried to start chipping away, scoring three run over the next two innings.
Claire Balint delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to make it 9-1, but the Huskies’ defense bailed them out with a third-to-first double play as Talon King stepped on third and fired to first to get Holibaugh to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Nigut drilled a line drive over the left-field fence on a 3-2 pitch to make it 9-2. They were able to add another run when Hannah Evans walked and came around to score when Sophie Pasinsky reached on an error by HC shortstop Brianna Cassidy.
Freshman pitcher Jayci Patterson relieved Resnik and shut out the Huskies in the fifth and sixth.
“One thing we did find out is that Jayci is going to be just fine taking over things in the future,” Rutherford said. “They’re a good team and she only gave up the one run over nearly four innings.”
In the bottom of the sixth, EF again failed to plate some runs with another golden opportunity.
Lucas got two quick outs in the inning before allowing a Resnik single. Nigut was hit by a pitch and Evans walked to load the bases. But Cimba hit into another fielder’s choice to King at third allowing Lucas to get out of the inning.
Lucas, an Akron recruit, finished her day going the distance and allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits. She struck out two and worked around six walks.
“We had eight hits off her, I don’t think she was doing anything overwhelming,” Rutherford said. “She was keeping the ball inside and had some movement. We just couldn’t square her up. We had our chances and couldn’t get that key hit.”
In the bottom of the seventh, Lucas allowed a one-out single by Morgan Telegdy but was able to force a fly out to center and a pop fly on the infield to end the Warriors’ season.
Elizabeth Forward (21-3) didn’t achieve its goal of a state championship this season, but it was still successful with another section title and the senior class’ second WPIAL championship in four years.
“You look at this senior class and they did something that hasn’t happened in school history,” Rutherford said proudly. “They won four section titles and two WPIAL gold medals.
“They’re setting the standard for all the kids coming that they’re going to have to match. Their legacy will have a lasting impact on our program.”