NTL SOFTBALL: BERGER, MOORE LEAD NEB PAST CV FOR DISTRICT WIN (2023-05-23)

Northern Tier Sports Report
WESTFIELD — Hannah Berger had a 3-run home run, Kelsea Moore struck out 12, and Northeast Bradford upset CV, 5-2, during District IV, Class AA quarterfinal softball action Tuesday.

“The girls played an awesome game,” said NEB coach MaKayla Holbert. “They gave 100-percent, and that’s all I can ask for.”

Moore issued just one walk, and allowed five hits, as CV had just seven base runners all game long.

“Our pitcher pitched an awesome game,” remarked Holbert.

Despite the long bus ride Moore fed off her teammates before the game.

“We had good energy going into the game, and I felt confident in the circle,” she said. “The defense was behind me from the first pitch, and stayed strong throughout the entire game. I’m very proud of my team, and look forward to moving to the semifinals.”

The Panthers had just one error in the field, and Melanie Shumway even threw out a runner at home as part of that strong defense.

Offensively, NEB used two big innings to get all their runs.

Berger (2-for-2) scored two runs, and had 3-RBI to go with her homer, while Kiarra DeLancey (1-for-2) had a double with a run scored. Moore (1-for-2) scored twice, as Toni Herb (1-for-3) had 2-RBI.

This was a bit of a rubber match for the two teams as NEB won at Westfield in their first meeting of the season, while CV won at NEB a couple weeks ago.

“It was great to get to play CV again,” Holbert said. “They are a hard team, but the girls were prepared, and ready to get another chance against them tonight.”

It was a bit of a revenge game as CV knocked NEB out of the playoffs last season as the lower seeded team. This year, the sixth seeded Panthers reversed it, beating the third seeded Indians.

After two scoreless innings CV manufactured a run in the third, scoring on an error off the bat of Ruby Sherman with two outs.

That lead didn’t last for long as the Panthers rallied in the top of the fourth, beginning with DeLancey’s 1-out double. Moore then drew a walk to set the table for Berger, who brought her home with a 3-run homer.

It stayed 3-1 until the top of the sixth as NEB went with two. Moore and Berger had lead-off hits, then were driven home by Herb for the 5-1 lead.

The Indians would rally in the seventh as Katie Adams would lead off with a double. She would get brought home on a sacrifice fly to cut it to a 3-run game.

Moore, though, took care of business, getting fly-out for the second out, and then striking out the final batter to end the game.

The Panthers will now face second seed Muncy at Elm Park on Friday with a 3 p.m. start. The Indians beat Northwest 2-0 in their quarterfinal game.

“We will be practicing hard these two days,” said Holbert. “I am so proud of my team.”

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PHOTO CAPTION: NEB’s Hannah Berger looks to make contact on her home run…PHOTOS BY LANCE LARCOM