Hometown Softball Recap – Blackhawk Cougars – 04/26/2017

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, April 26, 2017 | 11:07 PM

The Blackhawk Cougars were rolling to a five game winning streak after a 3-1 win over Ambridge on Monday. But with most teams, there are as many lows as highs in a season and the Cougars suffered their second straight loss and more importantly a key tiebreaker with the 8-6 victory by the visiting New Castle Red Hurricanes on Wednesday.

The Cougars rallied from a four run deficit in the seventh to knot the game at 6, but could not stop the Canes from plating two in the 8th. New Castle is now 3-6 overall and 3-4 in section.

It was pitching and defense that ruled thru the first five innings as Bree Dickton and Anna Wharry dueled. Wharry fanned six and used two double plays by the New Castle defense that negated a couple of rallies. Dickton struck out seven, as both pitchers allowed just one run over the same period.

New Castle scored two runs in the sixth on back to back doubles by Megan Vercilla and Kayla Stoner. A Wharry single made it 3-1 New Castle. Blackhawk had consecutive doubles of their own as Dickton brought home Sarah Allison. But courtesy runner Ally Zernick did not break for the plate on a fly out to center by Maddie Young and was tagged out on a fine bluff throw by Allie DoVidio at third.

The Red Hurricanes thought they broke the game open in the seventh. Run scoring singles by Paige Shaftic and Vercilla and a RBI double from Kayla Stoner for a 6-2 lead.

After one out, singles by Megan Pinkerton and Maci Egger chased Wharry from the circle. DoVidio moved from third and preceeded to load the bases. A ground ball by Dickton up the middle should have brought the second out but a error on freshman Mykala Micaletti allowed the bases to remain loaded. Leading 6-3, DoVidio got the second out on an Abby Riggio infield fly. But poor communication allowed the ball to fall and Egger to score the fourth run. Young doubled home two to force extra innings.

With two outs in the eighth, doubles by Skylar Duffee and Haley Piatt and a single by Micaletti put the Red Hurricanes back up 8-6. The Cougars did get two runners on in the bottom of the inning but neither got to scoring position and New Castle picked up the road win.

DoVidio was the winning pitcher in relief, going 1.2 innings. Vercilla and Stoner had 3 hits and 2 RBI’s each. Duffee had two doubles as did Stoner. New Castle had 12 hits and host Hopewell on Thursday.

Dickton struck out eight and took the loss. The sophomore had two hits and plated a pair of runs. PInkerton led the Cougars with three hits, Egger and Riggio had two and Young drove in two. Blackhawk also had 12 hits, the Cougars are now 6-5 overall and 4-4 in section play. Blackhawk travels to last place Quaker Valley tomorrow.

Tags: Blackhawk