Hometown Softball Program Game Recap For South Side Rams – 04/18/2013

By: Bruce Markey
Thursday, April 18, 2013 | 9:38 PM

In a key Section 4-A matchup, the Shenango Wildcats went on the road and took the victory over the South Side Rams on Thursday afternoon in Hookstown. Junior Kim Burdett went 4 for 4 for the Wildcats with a homer, two doubles and drove in five of the six runs. Michelle Klein went 2 for 3 at the plate for the Rams, but allowed all six runs in the circle and took the loss.

The win puts South Side and Shenango into a second place tie at 7-2, two games behind 9-0 Neshannock and three games ahead of both Western Beaver and Union for the final two playoff spots. Both teams have split the season series the last three years, South Side defeated Shenango 8-6 in eight innings earlier this year. This was the seventh meeting between the schools over that three year period, the games have been decided by a combined ten runs. South Side holds a 4-3 advantage in those seven games, with a win in the 2011 WPIAL consolation game that put the Rams into the PIAA playoffs.

Burdett staked Shenango to a 1-0 lead with a double in the top of the first. South Side evened the score in the home half of the third with a rbi single by Cheyenne Seik, plating Alexis Dhayer. The Rams missed an opportunity to take the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Connor McGaffic and Klein led off with back to back singles, but Dhayer grounded out to end the inning, stranding both runners on base.

Shenango took the lead for good in the fifth. Burdett homered over the left centerfield wall with two outs, the two run shot put the Wildcats up 3-1. The Cats’ added three more runs in the sixth on an Alyssa White single and a two run double for Burdett down the left field line.

The Rams got a run back in their half of the sixth. Tori Conti’s two out single scored Sarah Androlia, South Side dodged a bullet in the top of the seventh. Jenna Petrucci doubled with one out, but head coach Theresa Waxler made a pitching change, bringing McGaffic in to replace Klein. The freshman struck out the next two batters to end the inning. South Side was able to score one run when Androlia’s grounder went thru the legs of shortstop Alexa Owery, scoring Lacey Weible. But McGaffic lined out to right to end the game and give Shenango the 6-3 victory.

Seik, Androlia, McGaffic, Conti and Kaitlyn Work each had hits for the Rams. McGaffic saw her consecutive home run game streak end at two, she had hit two homers in each of the last two games and has nine for the season. South Side heads to Mohawk Friday and hosts Western Beaver on Tuesday, they have a second date with the Lancers at Neshannock on 4-30.

Shenango will travel to Laurel on Saturday, the Wildcats host Neshannock on Monday.