NTL SOFTBALL: TIMELY HITTING, STEELE-Y PITCHING LEAD TROY PAST CANTON (2021-04-28)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
CANTON — After the first four games it looked like it was going to be a long season for Troy softball. They were 0-4, and all their losses were lopsided. Then, their bats came alive in a win over NP-Liberty, and since then they haven’t lost, beating Canton 5-3 in NTL action Wednesday to finally claw back to .500 on the season.

“I’ve found their niche,” said first year coach Terilyn Anderson. “I’ve found how to coach them, and I can’t be more proud that they taught me how to teach them. It’s a win-win situation for both coaches, and team right now.”

Things really started when Lindsay Steele took over the pitcher’s spot. On Wednesday she held down a Warrior line-up that scored 15 or more runs in five of the last six games, and were riding a 4-game win streak themselves.

Steele finished with nine strikeouts, one walk, five hits, and three runs, one of which was earned.

“Lindsay’s an animal,” said Anderson. “The funny thing is, she bounces back, even after a mistake or two, or when there’s an error in the field. She does an exceptional job on the mound for me, and I couldn’t be happier.”

Both pitches played well, as Canton’s Jillian Shay allowed just four hits in the loss, striking out five, with two walks, and five runs, two of which were earned.

Considering how the two teams had hit the past couple weeks, a pitcher’s duel may not be what everybody expected, but it’s what they got.

Troy was able to squeak by a run in the top of the third, with Canton finally answering in the bottom of the fifth.

It was 1-1 until the top of the sixth, when Troy notched two more runs, then took a 5-1 lead with another pair of runs in the seventh. Canton rallied in the bottom half of the inning with two runs, but couldn’t keep it going.

Troy may have had just four hits, but three of them were doubles, as Arian Wilcox (1-for-3), Steele (1-for-4), and Madison Vargas (1-for-2), all had extra base hits. Tyra Williams (1-for-4) also had a hit, and scored a run.

Steele, and Vargas both knocked in two runs, as Olivia Tate had an RBI, too. Rachel Kingsley, Tate, Williams, Wilcox, and Caitlyn Knapp all scored.

“A lot of tee-work,” Anderson said about Troy’s hitting turn around. 

For Canton Molly Ward (1-for-3) had a double with a run scored, as Emmi Ward (1-for-4), scored twice with an RBI.

Keri Wesneski (1-for-4), Alexis Baldwin (1-for-3), and Mae Kinner (1-for-2) also had hits.

After two scoreless innings Kingsley led off the third by reaching on an error, getting all the way to third. Tate then squeezed her home on a bunt to put the Trojans up 1-0.

Canton was able to tie it up in the fifth with a 2-out rally. Emmi Ward reached on an error, eventually scoring on another error to knot things up at 1-1.

Troy responded in the sixth, as Wilcox hit a 1-out double. An error allowed Knapp to reach, which set up a 2-run double by Vargas to put the Trojans up 3-1.

Then in the seventh, Tate reached on a 1-out error, followed by Williams singling. Steele then doubled to drive both of them in, giving Troy a 4-run lead as Canton was down to their final three outs.

The Warriors had rallied before, though, and Molly Ward got them off to a strong start with a lead-off double. She then scored on an Emmi Ward single to cut it to 5-2.

Emmi Ward would then score on an error to cut Troy’s lead to two runs.

However, Steele took care of things after that, striking out the final two batters to secure the win.

Canton falls to 8-5, and will go on hiatus until Monday as the school goes remote, when they will host CV, whom beat them in their first meeting.

Troy (4-4) will also get a chance at revenge, as they travel to Wellsboro on Friday. The Hornets defeated them their third game of the season.

They have more confidence this time around, though, and hope for a different result.

“I would take a 3-hour practice, and just do swinging alone. The next day, it’s a 3-hour practice on fielding,” said Anderson. “I’ve come to find that these girls, if I focus on the one aspect every practice, we’re doing well with it.”

CUTLINE: Troy’s Rachel Kingsley slides in safe as Canton’s Allyson Butcher tags on Wednesday…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING.