NTL SOFTBALL: NEB FALLS TO CV IN DISTRICT SEMIFINAL (2022-05-27)
BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports ReportWILLIAMSPORT — Top seeded NEB was stymied by CV, falling 4-0 during District IV, Class A softball semifinal action Thursday.
While they were nearly equal in hits - CV led 7-6 - two Panther errors proved costly. The Indians, though, were able to turn three double plays during the contest to get out of trouble.
“It’s tough to lose,” said NEB coach Tilden Franklin. “I didn’t want to lose this way.”
CV scored a run in the top of the first, got a home run in the fifth, then added two more in the sixth for the win.
“Nothing to take away anything from Cowanesque, they’re a good team, a good ball club,” said Franklin. “We’re a victim of another one of their defeats.”
NEB swept them during the regular season, but both were 1-run games.
“They played good defense, we had some miscues, which opened the door, and then, when you’re down 4-0, the pressure gets built up,” Franklin said. “It just makes it tough.”
Thailey Franklin (2-for-3) and Emily Susanj (2-for-3) had multi-hit games for the Panthers, while Ciana Frisbie (1-for-3), and Toni Herb (1-for-3) also had hits.
Franklin struck out nine in the circle, while allowing one walk, seven hits, and four runs, two of which were earned.
Her counter part Ruby Sherman also struck out nine in the shutout win, with four walks, and six hits.
Seven different girls had hits for CV, none bigger than Keyana Thomas’ home run.
In the first a 2-out error off the bat of Ashley Woodring allowed the Indians to go up 1-0.
NEB had a chance to respond in the second, as Susanj and Frisbie led off with back to back hits. Malina Ramires, running for Susanj, would steal third.
Kelsea Moore then hit a ground ball to the second baseman, with Ramires making a break for home. The second baseman threw her out at the plate for the first out.
Then a popped up bunt was caught, with Moore getting doubled off at first to end the threat.
Neither team got much going until the top of the fifth when Thomas hit her lead-off home run to make it 2-0.
In the bottom half of the inning the Panthers threatened again, this time as Moore drew a 1-out walk. Then, with two outs, Herb singled, followed by Mikayla Post drawing a walk to load the bases. Sherman, though, got out of the jam with a strikeout.
In the sixth an error, a hit, and a walk loaded the bases for CV, setting up Makenzie Surine’s 2-run single with no outs, making it 4-0.
NEB’s defense held after that. They got a double play when the second baseman Herb through to first on a ground ball, then Julia Brown threw home to Susanj, who ran down a base runner for the second out. That was followed by a fly-out to end the threat.
In the bottom half of the inning Franklin and Susanj hit back to back singles, but CV got another double play to get out of the inning.
The Panthers had one more chance in the seventh, as Moore led off with a walk. After two outs were made Hannah Berger had a pinch hit walk, to put two runners on. Sherman, though, ended the threat with another strikeout, sending the Indians to the title game where they will meet Montgomery.
NEB will say good-bye to several key seniors, including Susanj, who has caught for them throughout her high school career.
“We’re all breaking out in tears out there,” said Franklin, remarking how Thailey and Emily were pitcher and catcher for the better part of a decade. “It’s almost like losing a family member.”
They do return six of nine starters, and Franklin likes what he sees out of the freshmen on the bench.
“We got so many young kids,” Franklin said. “Obviously, they didn’t have a chance to play because we had some seniors and juniors in there, but next year, the door’s going to be wide open. It’s going to be a completely different team next year, so don’t count us out.”
PHOTO CAPTION: NEB’s Emily Susanj makes contact on a hit…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING & LANCE LARCOM
