NTL SOFTBALL: CANTON COMES UP SHORT AGAINST NEB IN SEMIS (2021-06-01)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
WILLIAMSPORT — Going into Tuesday’s semifinal with NEB, Canton needed to keep the Panthers from having a big inning, and they needed to get some timely hits. They were able to accomplish the first, but stranded six runners without scoring a run in their 5-0 loss to NEB in District IV, Class A action.

“They got a key hit here, and there,” said Canton coach Lyle Wesneski. “I thought, maybe, if we could get on them, get a couple runs on the board early, and get a little pressure on (Thailey Franklin).”

They did get runners on base in the early innings, but Franklin, and the NEB defense, kept them from scoring. Franklin allowed just four hits, and no walks, while striking out six as the Warriors didn’t start making good contact until the seventh inning. When they got the bat on the ball it was either flare pop-ups, or soft ground outs.

At one point Franklin retired seven straight Canton batters - three of them by strikeout.

“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.”

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.

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

“Jill pitched a great game,” said Wesneski. “I’m really proud of the way she threw. She battled the whole seven innings.”

Wesneski was also touched by the fact that Shay skipped her senior trip to play with her teammates this week.

“In this day, and age, where kids don’t think twice about doing that, I commend her for being here,” said Wesneski. “That’s something I’ll take with me for a long time, because she could have just bailed on her teammates, and she didn’t. I’m proud of her, I’m proud of them all.”

For NEB, 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.

“I have respect for Lyle Wesneski, and his team,” said NEB coach Tilden 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.

Wesneski knows he returns all but his pitcher - but he also knows if they’re going to accomplish their goals of league, and district titles, they’re going to have to find a way to get past the Panthers.

“(I told them) this summer, focus on the little things,” he said. “Get better, play ball as much as you can. You know what you need to work on - let’s find a way to figure it out for next year, because we’re going to be duking it out a couple more years. I wish Northeast the best, they’ve got a great team. We’ll be back at it next year.”

CUTLINE: Canton’s Allyson Butcher makes contact on a hit against NEB Tuesday…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING.