NTL SOFTBALL: HOT HITTING TOWANDA TOPS WYALUSING IN SEASON OPENER (2024-03-27)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
WYALUSING — Towanda coach Caitlyn Crawford couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season as the Black Knights pounded out 16 hits en route to a 24-3 win over Wyalusing in five innings during NTL softball action Tuesday.

“The girls came out on fire today,” Crawford said. “(They were) excited to play. We needed to get a game under out belts, after three weeks of practice we were raring to go.”

Freshmen Brynsen Vargason (3-for-5) was a double away from the cycle, and hit her first career home run. She finished with 3-RBI and three runs scored.

Payton Perry (2-for-4) had a double with three runs scored and 2-RBI as Aleah Johnson (2-for-4) had 5-RBI with a double, a home run, and three runs scored.

Layla Miller (1-for-3) had a double with three runs scored, while Tae-Lynn Brabant (2-for-4) scored three times and had 3-RBI. Kynlee Kunkle (2-for-5) scored four times and had an RBI as Shay Greenland (1-for-2) drew three walks, with a double and 3-RBI.

Cadence Wells (2-for-5) had an RBI as Brooklyn Evans (1-for-4) scored twice, and drove in a run.

“The bats came out hot,” said Crawford. “They were really eager to hit.”

Greenland got the win, striking out five while allowing no walks, six hits, and three runs, two of which were earned.

“Shay was on fire,” said Crawford. “She is a gamer, gets in there and is always focused. She hit her spots, and does a good job.”

Addison Fluck gave the Ram fans something to cheer about with her 3-run home run in the fourth. She went 1-for-2 while Danielle Wilson (1-for-2) and Allie Liddick both scored. 

Addisyn Bly (1-for-3) had a double with Treanna Nickeson (1-for-3), Rachel Wilson (1-for-2), and Josie Ferris (1-for-2) also getting hits.

Fluck took the loss, striking out seven with eight walks in five innings of action.

Towanda took advantage of three Wyalusing doubles to post an 8-run first inning with Greenland getting a 2-run double, Vargason a 2-run triple, and Johnson a bases clearing double.

Vargason would hit a 3-run home run in the second to make it 11-0 Knights, while a Brabant RBI single in the third saw Towanda go up 12-0.

Johnson used a 2-run home run in the fourth to make it 14-0.

Fluck’s home run in the bottom half of the inning kept the game going but the wheels fell off for Wyalusing in the fifth as the first eight Towanda batters reached base in the 10-run fifth inning. 

Wyalusing (0-1) will host Troy Thursday while Towanda (1-0) travels to the defending league champions, NP-Liberty.

“We’ve got some tough games coming up,” Crawford said. “Keeping the bats hot, staying aggressive in the box, playing good defense. Just all around, we need to be a good team all-around.”

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PHOTO CAPTION: Towanda’s Brynsen Vargason watches her home run…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING

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