NTL SOFTBALL: NEB BACK IN FAMILIAR TERRITORY (2022-05-23)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Now’s the time Northeast Bradford has been waiting for.

After coming up one win short against Montgomery in the District IV, Class A title game in 2021, this is the tournament that’s been on their mind since.

“We waited all season for this, now it’s finally happening,” said pitcher Thailey Franklin.

Last year the Panthers came into the postseason 14-0, this year they come in 13-2, but NEB feels they’re more prepared this time around.

They fell to Canton and NP-Liberty late in the season, both tight games that showed them what they needed to work on.

“It was good practice for us,” Franklin said. “We needed that coming into districts, and just facing those good teams really helped us.”

One of the keys they’re focused on is at the plate.

“Our focus probably would be hitting during crucial times,” said catcher Emily Susanj. “We’ve got to get those hits, we’ve got to manufacture more runs.”

That was a problem in their loss to Montgomery in the final a year ago, they only had two hits - both by Susanj.

“We need to be able to get some more lead-off runners on,” she said.

They’ve made some changes at the top of the order, with Melanie Shumway moving from ninth to second, bumping Franklin and Susanj down one spot each.

“I really didn’t think that’s what was going to happen,” said Shumway. “Typically you want your fast at one and nine, but it works as 1-2, it’s around the same. But, I was really happy for myself, because he told me that it was because I earned it.”

That’ll give the Panthers two speedsters at the top of the order as both players can really put pressure on the defense once they get on the base paths. 

“Kayleigh is always going to be on base, typically,” said Shumway. “And then I can move her around. Then we have two big power hitters behind us where we can score on them.”

Of course, they have to find a way on, first, something they struggled with in the title game.

“She kept pitching us those rise balls, and we kept going for them,” said lead-off batter Kayleigh Thoman. “This year we’ve been really practicing on screws and rises, trying to hit them, and get them down.”

Defensively, Thoman has moved from second base to shortstop, a new position for high school, but one she has some familiarity with.

“I got very comfortable with second last year, but I played shortstop when I was younger, so I get the deal of it,” said Thoman. 

And, of course, they have the same battery as a year ago with Franklin and Susanj.

“There’s a bunch of pressure, but I know I just have to stay cool,” said Franklin. “Rely on my defense, and offense to come and play.”

“We just have to keep our defense very tight, smooth, clean,” remarked Susanj.

Offensively, both Susanj and Franklin are leading the team with averages over .500, and a combined eight home runs and 54-RBI.

“I have to help myself on offense,” Franklin said. “If I can’t get the defense or myself working, I’ll just have to rely on that, too.”

They have five batters with averages over .300 on the year, so there’s the potential to score some runs.

They have two new faces, too, with Kelsea Moore at third base, and Toni Herb at second - both freshmen.

“It’s stressful, but it’s exciting,” Moore said about taking a starting role on the team. “I look forward to games and practices because I know my team is pretty good.”

Moore bounced around a little bit on the field before settling on third base.

“I was just kind of thankful as a freshman starting,” she said. “He’d put me somewhere, I’d play it the best I could, and I wouldn’t complain.”

They might be freshmen, but by this point of the season they’re experienced, having played in several big games during the season.

“It’s very nerve racking, but I just always have to try my hardest,” said Herb. “Do what I can to help out the team. I just watched other people play, and just go off that, and listen to other people’s feedback.”

They aren’t intimidated at all by the returnees who made states a year ago.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Herb. 

The upperclassmen are impressed with how they’ve done this year.

“I think they’re doing a really good job,” said Susanj. “I know it’s a big transition from junior high, it’s a lot of different things going on, but I think they’re doing a really good job.”

This year’s bracket looks tougher than last year’s.

The defending champions Montgomery return as the third seed, while second seed Bucktail is improved.

The hottest team in the bracket right now is Canton, who haven’t lost a game in May yet this year. Even fifth seed, CV, took NEB to two 1-run games.

“It definitely is,” said Shumway. “Like last year, where it just depends on the type of game that comes out if we’re coming to win. I’m sure everybody else is going to come to win, but we have to want it more.”