NTL SOFTBALL: WYALUSING COMES UP SHORT AGAINST LINE MOUNTAIN IN D4 TITLE GAME (2021-06-05)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
WILLIAMSPORT — In the fourth inning, the second time through the line-up, it looked like Wyalusing may have solved Line Mountain’s Kya Matter. Hailey Jayne had just cut their deficit to 2-1, and was in scoring position with no outs. But then Matter struck out the next three batters to retake control, and Line Mountain ultimately made the 2-1 score stick to win the District IV, Class AA softball title Saturday.

“It definitely gave us a little bit of a spark,” Wyalusing coach John Loomis said about Jayne’s big hit. “But their pitcher is very seasoned, and she took control back of the game. She’s tough, she’s tough…you’ve got to give her a lot of credit. She’s a gamer.”

That was the only hit the Rams got against Matter, who struck out 15 with no walks. It was a slightly better performance than two years ago in the title game, when Matter struck out 17 batters.

“Their pitcher was outstanding,” said Loomis. “She’s a one girl show. They got a little help, but she pitched a good game.”

Jayne was strong in the circle as well, striking out seven with two walks, five hits, and two runs. She was 1-for-3 at the plate, with an RBI, too.

“Our pitcher pitched a great game,” remarked Loomis. “They were just one run better than us.”

Line Mountain didn’t get a lot of hits, but when they did get hits, they were big ones, with three multiple base hits. A back-to-back triple, then double, allowed them to take a 2-0 lead in the third inning.

Outside of that inning, though, Jayne was able to spread the hits out to keep the Rams in the game.

Line Mountain was able to get runners on base in the first and second innings, but both were stranded at first base.

Then in the third number nine hitter Emily Gonsar hit a lead-off triple. That set the table for Matter’s run scoring double to put the Eagles up 1-0.

Line Mountain’s Brooke Novinger then laid down a bunt to push Matter over to third. She would then score on a pass ball, putting Line Mountain up 2-0.

However, Jayne got the Rams out of the inning with back to back strikeouts to end the threat.

They then did some damage of their own in the fourth. After retiring nine straight Rams, Matter finally made a mistake, and beaned Laci Norton to lead things off. 

After Norton stole second Jayne doubled to bring her in, cutting it to 2-1. Matter would strike out the next three batters, but the Rams were back in the game.

Wyalusing’s next best opportunity game in the sixth as Norton reached on a 1-out error. This time, though, Line Mountain was able to get a double-play off the bat of Jayne to end the threat.

In the sixth it looked like Line Mountain might add to their lead as Kylie Klinger hit a lead-off, first pitch triple. The Eagles then tried to squeeze her home, but Jayne tagged her out to keep it a 1-run deficit.

It wouldn’t matter, though, as Matter retired the side in the top of the seventh to secure the win.

It’s a disappointing setback for Wyalusing, who was hoping to even the score with Line Mountain after the Eagles nipped them in 2019, but Loomis was proud of his team’s effort.

“Our kids worked hard all week,” he said. “We’ve got nothing to hang our heads about, and we’re going to give it heck on Monday.”

It will be a quick turnaround as the Rams will take the 3-plus hour trip to Mount Aloysius College on Monday, to face the District VI champions Mount Union (18-3). 

There’s no common opponent between the two teams, just that Mt. Union beat Penns Valley 9-8 in nine innings in the District VI title game this past week. 

“We’re hopeful,” Loomis said about their state playoff game. “You never know. Hopefully we can get things going on Monday, and advance, and go from there. This is a good team, and we got beat by a good pitcher, and we’ve got a good pitcher of our own. We’re hopeful to try to advance on Monday, and see what happens.”

CUTLINE: Wyalusing’s Hailey Jayne gets a hug from her father, assistant coach Brett Jayne, after getting her medal…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING & LANCE LARCOM.