NTL SOFTBALL: HARD HITTING TROY TOPS WYALUSING FOR DISTRICT WIN (2023-05-24)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
WYALUSING — A lot of success in softball is getting a team to peak at the right time, and nobody is peaking as high as Troy is right now. The Trojans continued to pound the ball at the plate, getting 14 hits en route to a 12-2 win over Wyalusing in five innings during District IV, Class AA softball quarterfinal action Tuesday.

“We have peaked at the right time,” said Troy coach Wayne Pratt. “The girls now believe in themselves, they believe in each other. They can overcome anything, and tonight they were ready to go right out of the blocks.”

They scored five runs in the first inning, and scored a run every inning after. Their streak of home runs continued over from the regular season as Lauren Ridall and Tyra Williams both went yard, but it was up and down the line-up as eight of Troy’s nine starters recorded hits.

“We came up against a hot team,” said Wyalusing coach John Loomis. “Their girls brought a lot of energy, and they really wanted this game, and took it to us. We had a good season, but we ran into a hot team, and that’s kind of the way it goes.”

The Rams had opportunities, getting runners in scoring position in four of their five at bats, but couldn’t seem to get that one hit they needed to break things open.

The Trojans had no problems breaking things open, and it all started with lead-off hitter Ridall.

She went 3-for-3 with a double, four runs, and an RBI to go with that home run.

“A lot of batting practice helps,” Ridall said about her success at the plate.

She was hitting so good they intentionally walked her on her fourth plate appearance.

“It was funny,” she said about the free pass. “I was really happy.”

Marlee Stanton (3-for-4) also had a big day with two doubles, two runs scored, and 2-RBI, while Olivia Champluvier (2-for-4) scored a run, and drove one in.

Madi Palmer (1-for-3) scored twice, and had 2-RBI, along with making a diving catch into the fence in right field.

Williams (1-for-3) had 2-RBI and a run scored to go with her home run, while Kali Ayres (2-for-3) scored, and drove in two runs. Amber James (1-for-3) also crossed home, while Caitlyn Knapp (1-for-3) had a hit.

“It’s amazing,” Ridall said about how they are hitting the ball. “I’m really proud of all my teammates, even the ones who aren’t playing - they’re a big part of us.”

Ridall got the win, going the first three innings with two strikeouts, three walks, and three hits, giving up both runs.

Champluvier went the final two innings with two strikeouts and one hit.

Troy’s settled into using two pitchers a game and it’s worked well these past few weeks.

“We have three very good pitchers,” Pratt said. “They all have totally different designs with their pitches. We wanted to get four innings out of Lauren, and then we wanted to bring in Liv tonight to finish it off.”

London Edwards (1-for-2) had a double with an RBI for the Rams, as Sydney Friedlander (1-for-3), Janelle Johns (1-for-3), and Kylie Pickett (1-for-2) also had hits. Rachel Wilson and Kya Carpenter scored their two runs, with Wilson also getting an RBI.

Johns took the loss, striking out three with three walks.

It may have been Troy’s first playoff game in a while but it didn’t show as they started hot in their 5-run first inning with their first six batters reaching.

Palmer then walked, setting up Stanton’s RBI double that drove in Ridall.

Palmer would score on a wild pitch to make it 2-0, followed by Ayres drawing a walk.

Champluvier then singled in Stanton for a 3-0 Trojan lead. An error off the bat of Tyra Williams allowed Ayres to score making it 5-0.

Wyalusing finally got an out as they Allie Liddick caught Williams trying to steal, though it allowed Champluvier to score for the 5-0 advantage.

The Rams got something going in the bottom half as Edwards drew a 2-out walk, followed by Johns getting a hit to make it second and third.

However, Ridall got out of the jam with a strikeout, stranding the two Wyalusing runners.

In the top of the second Ridall would take an 0-1 pitch over the fence for the first Trojan home run of the game to make it 6-0.

Williams then got into it in the top of the third as she hit a 2-2 pitch over the right field fence to make it 7-0 Trojans.

The Rams were able to get on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the inning as Wilson drew a walk. After an out Friedlander singled to put two runners on.

Wilson and Friedlander would move up a base on a passed ball, setting up Edwards’ ground out that scored Wilson to make it 7-1.

In the top of the third Troy would nab another as Ridall led off with a double. After two outs Ayres singled in Ridall to make it 8-1 Trojans.

Wyalusing did get something cooking in the bottom half of the inning as Danielle Wilson would reach on an error.

Liddick then drew a walk, followed by Pickett loading the bases with a single.

That’s when Champluvier came in to pitch, getting a strikeout right away.

Rachel Wilson, though, would do a job, grounding out to Williams but allowing Danielle Wilson’s runner, Carpenter, to score to make it 8-2.

Champluvier then got out of the jam with a fly out to end the inning.

In the fifth Troy once again rallied with two, as James led off with a single. After two outs Ridall was intentionally walked.

That would set up Palmer’s 2-run single that brought in James and Ridall to make it 10-2.

Stanton then singled in Palmer for the 9-run lead. Ayres then drove in Stanton for the 12-2.

Wyalusing needed to score a run to keep the game going, and Edwards would make contact on a 1-out double. However, a strikeout followed by a ground out ended the inning, and Troy was off to the semifinals.

“It’s crazy, it’s just surreal,” said Ridall. “We believe in ourselves.”

For the Rams they say good-bye to three seniors who have been instrumental in their post-Covid success - getting to a district final two years ago, and winning a league title last season.

“Sydney, London, Janelle are great kids, and they had great careers here,” Loomis remarked. “I’m really proud of them, nothing but positive vibes for those kids, and our team. We had a good season, it just didn’t end the way we wanted.”

The Trojans have a date with top seed South Williamsport, who survived an upset bid from East Juniata, 3-2, on Tuesday. They were down 2-0 before rallying for three runs in the final two innings.

They’ll get a hot Trojan team on Friday at Elm Park with a 4:30 p.m. start time.

“We’re going to be doing exactly what we’ve been doing - hitting and our defense,” said Pratt. “We’ll see where the cards fall on Friday night.”

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PHOTO CAPTION: Troy’s Lauren Ridall hits a home run…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING