NTL SOFTBALL: FRANKLIN TOSSES GEM AS NEB DOWNS WYALUSING (2022-05-10)

Northern Tier Sports Report
ROME — Thailey Franklin threw a 1-hit shutout, and NEB won the battle of the NTL champions, beating Wyalusing 3-0 during league softball action Tuesday.

“These are the games I love,” said NEB coach Tilden Franklin. “A low scoring game, good pitching, some good defensive plays, and where both teams try to find a way to manufacture runs. I think the game itself lasted a little over an hour. We are getting close to the playoffs, so these are the close games we need to play.”

Northeast used a run in the bottom of the first to take a lead, then added two more runs in the third for the 3-0 final. 

Franklin struck out eight, and allowed just one walk as she retired 12 of the first 13 batters she faced.

Her counterpart, Jenelle Johns, was also strong in the circle for the Rams, striking out eight with two walks, three hits, and three runs, just one of which was earned. She retired nine of the last 10 batters she faced in the contest.

At the plate for the Panthers Melanie Shumway (1-for-2) scored twice, while Kayleigh Thoman (1-for-3) also had a run. Kelsea Moore (1-for-2) had the other hit for NEB.

Shumway and Thoman, in particular, used their aggressive base running ability to its fullest in the win.

Laci Norton (1-for-3) had the lone Wyalusing hit.

In the bottom of the first Shumway was a one person offense for NEB. She hit a 1-out single, then stole second. The ball went into the outfield on the steal, allowing her to take third, and eventually home to put NEB up 1-0.

Then in the third Thoman got things going with a 1-out hit. She would steal second, take third on a wild pitch, and finally score on a passed ball, showing off her skill in generating offense.

Shumway would walk, steal second, take third on a wild pitch, and then score on an error off the bat of Franklin for the 3-0 lead.

After struggling to get any offense going, the Rams used a pair of errors to put runners on first and second with one out in the fifth, but NEB got out of the inning with a fielder’s choice, and a fly-out.

That’s as close as they got to scoring in the game.

Both teams return to action on Thursday, as NEB hosts Susquehanna, while Wyalusing welcomes Wallenpaupack, with an earlier than usual start at 3:30 p.m.

PHOTO CAPTION: NEB’s Kayleigh Thoman scores against Wyalusing…PHOTOS BY TINA MAYNARD

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