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NTL SOFTBALL: NEB USES STRONG PITCHING, TIMELY HITTING TO TOP CANTON IN DISTRICT SEMIS (2021-06-01)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
WILLIAMSPORT — All game long Northeast Bradford’s coach Tilden Franklin was waiting for the big inning. It didn’t come, but it didn’t matter, as a strong pitching performance from Thailey Franklin, combined with NEB’s ability to nickel-and-dime runs in gave the Panthers a 5-0 win in the District IV, Class A softball semifinals Tuesday.

“That was our game plan, at least put something up on the board,” said Franklin. “I was waiting for a big inning, but sometimes it just doesn’t happen.”


The Canton defense bent, but didn’t break as the Panthers stranded seven on the base paths. In the circle, though, Franklin was at her best in the win, striking out six while allowing just four hits - no walks or runs - hold the Warriors scoreless.


“It feels great,” she said about the win. “The first two games we were able to handle them, and I knew this game they would be fighting for their win, and I’m very glad we got the win.”


It took 10 hits, a couple errors, and some aggressive base running to get those five runs, with the bottom of the order coming up just as big as the top of the order for NEB.


“We’ve been doing that all season,” said coach Franklin. “The bottom end of the order batted right around .400, the (middle) part was over .300, and top was .500. We’ve got a good balance of speed, and power. It’s almost like I have three line-ups in one, so it starts back over.”


Julia Brown (2-for-3), Julianna Susanj (2-for-3), and Kayleigh Thoman (2-for-4) all had multi-hit games. Brown had a double, as both her, Thoman and Julianna touching home. Emily Susanj (1-for-2) knocked in a run, with Malina Ramires crossing home as her courtesy runner.


Franklin (1-for-3) had a triple, with a run scored, as Maisie Neuber (1-for-3) had a double, with an RBI.


For Canton, Allyson Butcher (2-for-3) had a multi-hit game, with Emmi Ward (1-for-3), and Mae Kinner (1-for-3) also getting hits.


However, the potent Warrior line-up struggled to make good contact. Through the first six innings they were mostly flare-like fly-outs, or soft ground ball. 


At one point Franklin retired seven straight Warriors, three of them with strikeouts.


“We know she’s the real deal,” said Canton coach Lyle Wesneski. “She’s tough. She spins the ball so well - up and down, in and out - very seldom does she throw a straight fast ball.”


In the seventh they got back to back hard hits to start off the inning, but the NEB defense held to keep them away from home plate.


Jill Shay took the loss, allowing 10 hits, three walks and five runs, two of which were earned, as she struck out two.


“I have respect for Lyle Wesneski, and his team,” said coach Franklin. “These games with them brings out the best competitive ball for both teams.”


Canton would get a runner in scoring position to start the game, as Emmi Ward plopped a 1-out single in no man’s land in shallow left. She would reach second on a ground out, but was stranded there.


In the bottom half of the inning Thoman led off with a bunt hit, then reached second on a steal. However, she was called for runner’s interference on a hit by Emily Susanj, leaving two outs, with a Ramires on first running for Susanj.


That set up Neuber’s RBI double to center field, giving NEB a 1-0 lead right off the bat.


In the top of the second Butcher got a similar bloop hit to drop, much like Ward’s, but she was stranded at first. Brown led off NEB’s at bat with a hit, but Canton held her at second.


An error off the bat of Alexis Baldwin gave Canton a runner on with no outs to start the third, but she never made it past first base. That would be the Warriors’ last base runner until the sixth inning.


In the bottom half of the inning NEB struck again, this time as Thoman led off with a single to left field. She would take second on a ground out, then scored on an error off the bat of Emily Susanj to make it 2-0.


In the bottom of the fourth Brown led off with a double, followed by Julianna Susanj dropping in a single to put two runners on. 


Mikayla Post would ground into a fielder’s choice, as Canton got Susanj out at second base.


After a pop out it looked like Canton would get out of the inning, but a Thoman walk loaded the bases. The fourth ball squirted away from the catcher, allowing Brown to score, making it 3-0. 


Thoman would try for second, with Canton throwing to get her out. That persuaded Post to try, and take home, which induced a run down as a throw beat her.


Post headed back to third, then tried to score, where Shay tagged her out at home to end the at bat.


Up 3-0, NEB got another run in the bottom of the fifth as Franklin led off with a triple. She scored on an Emily Susanj hit to make it 4-0.


Neuber then reached on a ground out, and would get all the way to third base, but Shay got a strikeout for the third out to strand her there.


In the top of the sixth Molly Ward reached on an error, taking second on an under throw to first base. A ground out got her third, but she was stranded there.


In the bottom half of the inning Julianna Susanj led off with a single, then reached second on a sacrifice bunt. Shumway then walked to put two runners on.


During Thoman’s at bat, they tried to get Shumway on a pick-off, but the ball wasn’t caught cleanly and rolled away. That allowed Susanj not only to take third base, but also sneak home as well to put the Panthers up 5-0.


Finally, in the top of the seventh, back to back 1-out hits by Butcher, and Kinner got things rolling. A fly-out moved Butcher to third, but Franklin had the last say in the game, getting a strikeout to end the threat, and secure the win.


It was solid showing for a team that hand’t played in over two weeks.


“This was a game to get our nerves out,” said the NEB pitcher. “Now we can really compete for the next one.”


They will face Montgomery on Thursday, at 4:30 p.m. back at Elm Park, and coach Franklin knows it will need to be another team effort to top the Red Raiders.


“Our team plays very well together,” he said. “They help each other out, and it’s not just one player, it’s the whole team. Pitching needs defense, and the teams need a pitcher. Offense needs to score runs for the team. These pieces fit perfectly in a puzzle.”


The Red Raiders’ hurler Faith Persing has been dominant all season, so NEB will need to rely on their small ball to put runs up on the scoreboard. 


“She’s going to hit her spots,” said coach Franklin. “We’ll have to prepare for that in tomorrow’s practice.”


The win also guarantees them a spot in the PIAA playoffs.


“I knew right in the beginning - I told these girls - ‘we’re going to go to states,” said coach Franklin. “It starts with pitching - if you don’ have a pitcher you won’t get very far. So I knew I had a pitcher, so we had to work on defense. That was our second thing, and our third thing, was, I really wanted to utilize our line-up. It just so happens that we have speed and power.”


And, right there, is the perfect combination to win in the playoffs.


CUTLINE: NEB’s Thailey Franklin winds up to deliver to home against Canton…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING.



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