Hometown Softball Recap – Baldwin Highlanders – 05/10/2017

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, May 10, 2017 | 1:49 AM

With a section title matchup against Canon-McMillan looming, Baldwin took the field against a Bethel Park squad determined to spoil its rivals hopes of a third straight section championship and senior day. The playoff bound Black Hawks did just that with an 8-7 stunner Tuesday over the Highlanders.

Baldwin jumped ahead quickly in the bottom of the first, putting up four runs in the inning, capitalizing on two Bethel Park errors. Cassie Carlson led off the bottom of the first with a walk and reached second on an error when second baseman Carolyn Cook dropped the first part of a potential double-play. Alexis Palermo reached safely at first on the play. Carlson scored on the next play when Bethel Park first baseman overthrew Cook covering first on a bunt by Taylor Dadig, making it 1-0 Baldwin, and the play put Palermo on third and Dadig on second. Fighting Highlanders starting pitcher Addie Tagg singled in the next at-bat, driving in Palermo, giving Baldwin a 2-0 lead. Baldwin third baseman Samantha Wampler hit a sacrifice fly in the inning, scoring Dadig to make it 3-0 and scoring wrapped up with an RBI single by left fielder Katie Knezevich, making it 4-0 after one in favor of Baldwin.

Bethel Park didn’t shy away and capitalized in the top of the second on uncharacteristic defensive mistakes by the Fighting Highlanders, tying the game at four, taking advantage of three errors in the inning. After two quick outs, two straight errors and a single loaded the bases for Bethel Park and catcher Shayna Postler knocked a two-RBI single to left field, cutting the lead to 4-2. Bethel Park scored its third run on the third Baldwin error of the inning and tied the game on an RBI single by shortstop Rachel Hankin.

Baldwin eventually took a 7-4 lead, scoring one in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by Wampler, who the in the fifth added to the 5-4 lead with a two-run home run, setting the 7-4 score in place after five innings.

Bethel Park again found two-out lightning in the top of the sixth. With the bases loaded, two outs and a 3-2 count, Ashley Burford, hitting in the nine spot of the order, belted a go-ahead grand slam to straightaway center field giving Bethel the 8-7 lead, one it wouldn’t relinquish.

Bethel Park’s Abby Joyce picked up the victory, throwing a complete game allowing seven runs, four earned on nine hits, walking four and striking out three.

Baldwin’s Addie Tagg received the loss, allowing eight runs, six earned on seven hits, walking one and striking out one.

Bethel Park’s section season closes with an 8-4 record and third place finish in 6A-1.

For MSAsports hometown softball Baldwin Fighting Highlanders, it takes the field against Canon-McMillan for a chance to share the section championship tomorrow (May 10).

BOX SCORE:

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7  R H E

Bethel Park – 0 4 0 0 0 4 0 –  8 7 3

Baldwin – 4 0 1 0 2 0 0 – 7 9 5