×

Errors plague Wildcats

Sentinel photo by MIKE GOSS
Juniata’s Abby Adair (2) glides safely into home plate while Greenwood’s Alli Walton waits to put on a tag Thursday in Millerstown.

MILLERSTOWN — Taking advantage of mistakes and getting behind the arm of Ally Misal, Juniata handled Greenwood in six innings Thursday, 13-3 in a Tri-Valley League softball matchup.

“Awesome, the kids played a great game,” Indians coach Dave Cisney said. “They’ve been playing better ball in the second half of the season.”

The Indians went on the attack in the opening frame, scoring three runs while taking advantage of a couple of Wildcat mistakes. The Wildcats had two errors in the first inning and committed a total of seven in the game.

“That was a rough one — errors, errors, errors,” Wildcats coach Bub Walton said. “I’ve been telling the girls they have to clean it up. We had three errors on one play. Not going to win too many ball games that way.”

Mya Rush led off the inning reaching on an error then scored when Kali Foltz hit into an error outfield error. Foltz husted to third base and Laney Dowling singled her home. Later on in the inning with the bases loaded, Presley Goodwin drew a walk that brought home Hunter Johns.

Juniata kept it going in the next inning adding two more runs as Dowling scored Foltz again and Maci Kreider later drove in Dowling to make it 5-0.

In the top third the Indians struck again as Sasha Dressler scored after a failed pick-off attempt. Dowling then tacked on two more by pushing scoring Abby Adair and Foltz across the plate.

In the fourth inning Adair singled up the middle to score Olivia Laub. Foltz brought home Adair and Dowling made her presence felt again scoring Rush.

Juniata added two more runs in the top of the sixth to make it a mercy-rule game.

“That’s a tough lineup,” Walton said. “You go from Foltz to Johns to Kreider. It’s a tough, tough lineup.”

Dowling led the Indians going 4-for-5 at the plate with five RBIs. Adair and Kreider each went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

“Offensively we were really good,” Cisney said. “The girls have been patient in the box, they’ve learned a lot as far as hitting, being patience looking for their pitch. These guys were ripping the ball and knocking the cover off the ball tonight.”

After struggling early against Misal, the Wildcats finally got on the board in the the bottom of the third inning as Mercedees McNaughton got it going, driving in Mackenzie Wingert. Alli Walton then plated McNaughton with a single to center.

Greenwood added another run in the bottom of the sixth when Mary Gantt sent one up the middle allowing Hannah Lesher to score.

Wingert led the Wildcats at the plate going 3-for-4. Walton and Lesher each went 2-for-3.

“Offensively I think we could have done better with pitch selection at the plate,” Walton said. “Patience at the plate I’ve been trying to tell them that all year.”

For the most part Misal kept the Greenwood hitters guessing, striking out eight while walking two.

“Ally, she is not overpowering, but she gets the job done,” Cisney said. “She has done a good job all four years for us pitching. I’m very proud of her — she hits her spots.”

Juniata (6-13, 6-10) will travel to face Selingrove on Saturday.

“Saturday I think we’re going to relax a little bit and have some fun,” Cisney said. “We want to win it and we’re going to work hard and focus on the things we’ve been focusing on. But I think it’s going to be a little bit more relaxed and fun.”

Greenwood (1-17, 1-15) will travel to take on Midd-West on Tuesday. Walton expects to see a different team.

“Patience at the plate and clean up our defense,” Walton said.

Juniata 13, Greenwood 3 (6 inn.)

Juniata 323 202 — 13-13-1

Greenwood 002 001 — 3-9-7

WP: Ally Misal. LP: Hannah Gorman. SO: Misal 8 (J); Gorman 2 (G). BB: Misal 2 (J); Gorman 5 (G). 2B: Hunter Johns, Abby Adair (J); Alli Walton, Mercedees McNaughton (G). MH: Foltz 2-5, Laney Dowling 4-5, Johns 2-5, Maci Kreider 2-4, Adair 2-4 (J); Mackenzie Wingert 3-4, Walton 2-5, Hannah Lesher 2-3 (G). RBI: Dowling 5, Kreider, Adair, Presley Goodwin (J); Walton, Mary Gantt, McNaughton (G).

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $3.92/week.

Subscribe Today