By: Ryan Tattersall
It is the start of a tough 3 game road trip as the Wallenpaupack Softball team took care of business with a much-needed win over the Scranton Prep Cavaliers on Monday April 24th. After a hard-fought loss to Mid Valley on Friday night April 21st, Paupack really needed to bounce back with a win in this against SP. While Scranton Prep wasn’t the toughest team around, they could still put up a pretty good fight — but the Lady Bucks wouldn’t let that stop them.
Emily Sterner and Hunter Myers started the game with a base hit and an error to third. Emily would then score off a sacrifice pop fly from Gabby Hieber, giving Wallenpaupack a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the first, Clara Babyak and the Lady Buck defense held Scranton Prep to 0 runs in the inning.
In the 2nd inning both teams would defensively stop each other, keeping the 1-0. Babyak got 3 strikeouts in the inning. In the start of the 3rd, Allie Sterner singled to left. It was then followed by a double off the bat of Hunter Myers, that drove in Sterner. Gabby Hieber would also amp up the score with a fly ball that dropped for an error, and driving in Myers to take a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the inning however, Scranton Prep would start to fight back.
With 2 outs, Paupack was looking to get out of the inning, but they were stopped by a single from SP’s Alexis Straw, and then a 2 run blast from Abby Wilce. Thankfully, the inning ended with pop fly to first base player Dakota Hubbard. Nothing much was done in the top 4th, except for Josie Leighton scoring on a wild pitch to bum up a run.
In the bottom 4th, Alexis Straw singled to center scoring in Grace McCormack. But the Cavs were prevented from doing more damage, with a great catch from Left Fielder Madison Haberstumpf to end the 4th inning. With 3 more innings left the Lady Bucks had to score again, and so they did. Hunter Myers hit a ground ball that reached for an error, and then Gabby Hieber singled a pop fly to center. It would then be followed up with a two run triple that was hit by Kailyn Kielbasa. Dakota Hubbard then hit a sacrifice fly that drove in Kielbasa. Nothing else was scored though in at bat.
In the bottom 5th, Scranton Prep wouldn’t quit. With 2 outs, Emelia Williams doubled a fly ball to left that drove in Addison Ahern. Another run was then scored off a fly ball that was misplayed in the infield. To add on the Cavaliers rally, a base hit was lined down third scoring in Nina Franceschelli. During that play however, Madison Haberstumpf once again saved the Lady Bucks with a long throw to home that tagged out Alexa Mulrooney, ending a defensive scare in the bottom of the 5th.
Start of the 6th, and the game was close. While Paupack had the lead, they were only up by one run. They turned into a hitting machine again. Emily Sterner singled to center. Then the dangerous duo of Hunter Myers and Gabby Hieber scored in 2 more runs. Kailyn Kielbasa would also add on to the Scranton Prep pain with a single that drove in Grace Lake, who ran in Hieber’s place. Kielbasa would then score off a wild pitch, making the score 11-6. From that point on the game belonged to Paupack.
Scranton Prep tried to rally in the 7th but were stopped by Lady Buck might. Wallenpaupack would go on to win 11-6. The win was a team effort. Hunter Myers was 2-2 with 2 RBIs and 3 runs. Madison Haberstumpf had a great day defensively, getting 2 huge outs, and the final out of the game. Gabby Hieber as well had a fantastic game, getting 2 RBI hits, a run, and finished the game with a strong pitching performance. Everyone had a great game. The Lady Bucks are at West Scranton on Wednesday April 26th at 4:30.
