NTL SOFTBALL: WYALUSING FALLS TO MT. UNION IN OPENING ROUND OF STATES (2021-06-07)

Northern Tier Sports Report
CRESSON — Eight different Wyalusing batters got hits on the day, usually a good sign, but it wasn’t enough as Mt. Union put up 12 runs in their 12-3 win over the Rams during the PIAA, Class AA first round softball playoffs Monday.

“They were a good hitting team,” said Wyalusing coach John Loomis. “I give them a lot of credit. They were a solid team all the way around…they were ready.”

Mount Union had 16 hits to Wyalusing's 10, with four extra base hits to the Rams’ two. 

“We hit the ball pretty good, they just out hit us,” remarked Loomis.

It was a 3-plus hour bus ride for the Rams to make the noon first pitch, and that may have had an affect as the Trojans scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning to go up early.

They built a 9-1 lead after three innings, before Wyalusing cut it to 9-3 with runs in the fifth, and sixth innings. Mt. Union, though, tacked on three more in the bottom of the sixth to secure the win.

“It was just tough,” said Loomis. “At the end of the season, with so many games back to back to back, I’m sure our kids are tired. We’ve got some tough kids.” 

Haley McGroarty (2-for-2) had the big bat on the day, with a double, a run scored, and an RBI, while Hailey Jayne (2-for-4) also had a multi-hit game.

Callie Bennett (1-for-4) had a double, with a run scored, while Laci Norton (1-for-3), London Edwards (1-for-4), Jenelle Johns (1-for-4), Danella Cornell (1-for-2), and Sydney Friedlander (1-for-3) also had hits.

Norton scored, with Edwards and Friedlander each getting an RBI.

Jayne continued to be their workhorse, taking the loss as she threw 109 pitches in the hot, humid weather. 

“She did a great job this year,” Loomis said about his senior. “I’m sure that kid is tired - she would never say she was tired - but I’m she was tired.”

Jayne struck out six, with one walk, 16 hits, and 12 runs, 11 of them earned.

Mt. Union came in with four girls hitting over .400, and they showed why on Monday, as 10 different batters had hits, with six of them having multi-hit games.

Morgan Brumbaugh (2-for-4) did the most damage, with a home run, a double, three runs scored, and 3-RBI. Karrigan Woodward (2-for-4) had two doubles, with a run scored, and an RBI, as well.

Woodward got the win, striking out four, with two walks, 10 hits, and three runs, two of which were earned.

In the first inning the top five batters for the Trojans all reached with hits en route to their 5-run inning.

Down 5-0, Wyalusing answered in the top of the second as they got lead-off back-to-back doubles from Bennett, and McGroarty. Bennett scored McGroarty's hit to cut it to 5-1.

Brumbaugh hit a solo shot in the bottom half of the inning to make it 6-1 Trojans.

Mt. Union tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the third thanks to a 2-RBI hit from Kadyn Crisswell, and an RBI double from Woodward.

The Rams would get a run in the fifth as Norton hit a 1-out bloop single to get on. She would advance to second on a pass ball, then took third on a ground out.

That set up a 2-out Edwards RBI single to make it 9-2.

Then in the sixth McGroarty drew a 1-out walk. After a second out Cornell singled to keep the rally going.

That set the table for Friedlander's RBI hit, which scored McGroarty, to make it 9-3.

Mt. Union, though, took back control in the sixth, scoring three more runs for the 12-3 final.

This signifies the end of an era for the Rams as they lose six core seniors to graduation, including starting pitcher Jayne. In the three seasons this group had they won three NTL titles - one of them outright - and were crowned district champions as freshmen.

“We had a good group of kids that got along together,” said Loomis. “Fortunately, we were able to qualify for the playoffs, make a district championship game, and lucky enough to get a bid for the state tournament. Overall, I’m pretty happy, but today was, no doubt, a rough day.”

After Covid-19 took away last year’s season, and nearly wrecked this one for the Rams, they were especially happy to still be playing in June.

“We were happy to have a season,” said Loomis. “We finished, and still had a lot of positive vibes.”

CUTLINE: Wyalusing’s Haley Jayne looks to make contact against Mt. Union…PHOTOS BY LANCE LARCOM.