RIDGWAY – Elk County Catholic continues to be Curwensville\’s nemesis in the District 9 Class A Softball Playoffs.
The Lady Crusaders took advantage of Lady Tide miscues to grab a 4-0 lead in the first inning, answered every time their lead was trimmed and then staved off a seventh-inning charge to escape with a 9-8 win in the 9-A championship game at the Ridgway High School Field Saturday afternoon.
Elk County Catholic (16-5) avenged two regular-season losses in blocking Curwensville\’s path to the title for the third time in four years year.
\”We really wanted that one,\” Lady Tide Coach Allen Leigey said. \”They beat us 2-1 in the semis last year and by one run in the quarterfinals two years ago.
\”I\’m not disappointed in the effort, though. We chased and chased, but we just couldn\’t catch them.\”
Lady Crusader pitcher Laura Scott survived her second rough inning by getting the final out with two runners aboard.
\”I told the girls we were one hit way from tying the game and one really good hit away from winning it,\” Leigey said. \”They fought hard.\”
Nicole Snyder gave Elk County a quick lead in the top of the first inning with a liner over centerfielder Shannon McDonald\’s head for an RBI-double. An infield bobble and the second walk issued by loser Holly Lansberry loaded the bases for Casey Reed, who\’s hooking drive to left was misplayed, resulting in three runs.
Curwensville got on the board in the second when Brittany Barrett singled and scored on Samatha Haney\’s rocket double to right center.
In the third, Elk County Catholic got the run back on Scott\’s RBI-single before the Lady Tide trimmed the deficit to 5-3 when Dana Johnson tripled to right center for an RBI and scored on Amy Kalgren\’s groundout.
The Lady Crusaders doubled their lead in the sixth inning on Scott\’s double, two more Lady Tide infield errors and Mandy Keller\’s squeeze bunt.
Rightfielder Brittany Barrett sliced a double to right center for her third hit, chasing home Ashley Demchak to set the score at 7-4 going to the last inning.
Elk County Catholic then came up with what proved to be the decisive runs on back-to-back doubles by Snyder and Laken Lenox, a groundout and a wild pitch.
Curwensville delayed the champs\’ celebration with a rally ignited by Kristi Newpher\’s single. Lansberry grounded into a forceout, but Dani Struble walked and Johnson singled. Two runs scored when Kalgren\’s groundeer was muffed and then thrown away at second base. When Demchak drilled a single under the shortstop\’s glove for two more runs, the Lady Tide bench and fans had visions of a dramatic win.
One out later, Scott pitched around Barrett, though walking the potential winning run, and then got a game-ending groundout.
\”I knew it would be tough coming in,\” Leigey said. \”We had some first-inning jitters and just never caught them.\”
Demchak had two singles for Curwensville, which outhit Elk County Catholic 10-6.
The Lady Tide has little time to refocus after the tough loss. The PIAA Class A Playoffs begin Monday with Curwensville taking its 19-3 record to Hess Field in Boalsburg for a noon game against District 6 champion Southern Huntingdon.