PENNSBURY:
Schilling comes to the rescue
By RICK FORTENBAUGH
For Buckslocalsports.com
BRISTOL TWP., Pa. — Never play a hand of poker against veteran Pennsbury High school softball coach Frank McSherry.
After all, even when his strategy backfires he’ll probably still pull an inside straight when the last card is turned over.
Such was largely the case Friday when Pennsbury remained undefeated with a 5-3 Suburban One National League victory over Truman.
At the start of the game, McSherry elected to throw his No. 2 pitcher. This appeared to be major trouble when she walked the first four Truman batters.
Incredibly, however, Truman didn’t score because the first batter who walked was thrown out trying to steal second.
Still, with the bases loaded and just one out, McSherry decided it was time to summon No. 1 pitcher Kait Schilling to the circle. The junior righty responded magnificently with two strikeouts to get out of the jam and the game had decidedly turned in Pennsbury’s favor.
“It was a little bit of a hunch, but we need two throwers," replied McSherry when asked why he didn’t start Schilling.
“I thought Kait did a great job. She came in in a pressure situation and handled it."
Schilling would go onto finish with a five-hitter and wasn’t scored upon until the sixth when Tina Coffman singled and came home on Nichole King’s ground ball.
Truman also scored twice in the bottom of the seventh when Ashley Black hit a two-run bullet over the left-field fence, but by that time Pennsbury was working with a very comfortable margin.
Truman junior ace Rachael Alligood was not at her best Friday and was forced into one deep count after another. The end result was five Pennsbury runs on nine hits.
While the Falcons didn’t exactly rip the ball, they did do a good job of putting the ball in play and struck out only six times against the hard-throwing Alligood.
Brooke Downs had the biggest day for the opportunistic Falcons. In the second inning she helped put her team on the board with a one-hop double off the left-field fence. Downs also had an RBI single in the seventh when Pennsbury tacked on two more runs.
The middle of the Pennsbury order also produced with Kirby Groves and Rebecca Erb each collecting two hits. Groves singled in a run in the fourth.
“I thought our defense played great," said McSherry of an errorless effort. “I also like the way we battled at the plate. Alyssa Shirley set the tone right away."
In the top of the first, Shirley had a long at bat that included at least six foul balls and led to an infield single. Shirley didn’t score, but it was obvious Pennsbury was really going to make Alligood work.
All in all it was a good day for Pennsbury, which came in undefeated, but hadn’t exactly faced strong pitching to date.
“It was our first big test," said McSherry. “Rachael is a very good pitcher and we were able to have some good at bats against her."
***
FALCON FODDER: Pennsbury will make up a postponed game this morning at home against Council Rock South. McSherry is still waiting to hear if the team will have administration approval to play in the Mt. St. Dominic Tourney on a Sunday. The rained-out Conwell-Egan game will be played on a Saturday night in May.
Pennsbury (5-0) 011 010 2 - 5 9 0
Truman (4-3) 000 001 2 - 3 5 2
WP-Schilling. LP-Alligood. 2B-Downs (P). HR-Black (T). RBIs: P-Groves, Downs. T-King, Black 2.
For Buckslocalsports.com
BRISTOL TWP., Pa. — Never play a hand of poker against veteran Pennsbury High school softball coach Frank McSherry.
After all, even when his strategy backfires he’ll probably still pull an inside straight when the last card is turned over.
Such was largely the case Friday when Pennsbury remained undefeated with a 5-3 Suburban One National League victory over Truman.
At the start of the game, McSherry elected to throw his No. 2 pitcher. This appeared to be major trouble when she walked the first four Truman batters.
Incredibly, however, Truman didn’t score because the first batter who walked was thrown out trying to steal second.
Still, with the bases loaded and just one out, McSherry decided it was time to summon No. 1 pitcher Kait Schilling to the circle. The junior righty responded magnificently with two strikeouts to get out of the jam and the game had decidedly turned in Pennsbury’s favor.
“It was a little bit of a hunch, but we need two throwers," replied McSherry when asked why he didn’t start Schilling.
“I thought Kait did a great job. She came in in a pressure situation and handled it."
Schilling would go onto finish with a five-hitter and wasn’t scored upon until the sixth when Tina Coffman singled and came home on Nichole King’s ground ball.
Truman also scored twice in the bottom of the seventh when Ashley Black hit a two-run bullet over the left-field fence, but by that time Pennsbury was working with a very comfortable margin.
Truman junior ace Rachael Alligood was not at her best Friday and was forced into one deep count after another. The end result was five Pennsbury runs on nine hits.
While the Falcons didn’t exactly rip the ball, they did do a good job of putting the ball in play and struck out only six times against the hard-throwing Alligood.
Brooke Downs had the biggest day for the opportunistic Falcons. In the second inning she helped put her team on the board with a one-hop double off the left-field fence. Downs also had an RBI single in the seventh when Pennsbury tacked on two more runs.
The middle of the Pennsbury order also produced with Kirby Groves and Rebecca Erb each collecting two hits. Groves singled in a run in the fourth.
“I thought our defense played great," said McSherry of an errorless effort. “I also like the way we battled at the plate. Alyssa Shirley set the tone right away."
In the top of the first, Shirley had a long at bat that included at least six foul balls and led to an infield single. Shirley didn’t score, but it was obvious Pennsbury was really going to make Alligood work.
All in all it was a good day for Pennsbury, which came in undefeated, but hadn’t exactly faced strong pitching to date.
“It was our first big test," said McSherry. “Rachael is a very good pitcher and we were able to have some good at bats against her."
***
FALCON FODDER: Pennsbury will make up a postponed game this morning at home against Council Rock South. McSherry is still waiting to hear if the team will have administration approval to play in the Mt. St. Dominic Tourney on a Sunday. The rained-out Conwell-Egan game will be played on a Saturday night in May.
Pennsbury (5-0) 011 010 2 - 5 9 0
Truman (4-3) 000 001 2 - 3 5 2
WP-Schilling. LP-Alligood. 2B-Downs (P). HR-Black (T). RBIs: P-Groves, Downs. T-King, Black 2.
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