NTL SOFTBALL: TROY ROLLS PAST WELLSBORO IN SEASON OPENER (2025-03-21)

Northern Tier Sports Report
EAST TROY — Troy softball pounded out 11 hits - five of them of the extra base variety - as they rolled past Wellsboro, 13-2 in six innings, in their season opener on Friday.

“It was our first game of the season so you always have those jitters,” Troy head coach Wayne Pratt said. “The girls were a little nervous, but they settled in and they were ready to go. And it showed the first two winnings. We got a couple runs on the board which allowed them to relax and really play their game.”

Kali Ayres (3-for-4) and Madi Palmer (2-for-4) led the way at the plate. Ayres had two doubles, 4-RBI, and two runs scored, while Palmer finished with a home run, a double, 3-RBI, and two runs scored.

Freshman Erinn Knapp (2-for-3) had an RBI with a run scored, as Lauren Ridall (1-for-3) scored four times. Olivia Champluvier (1-for-3) crossed home, and drove in a run, as Amber James (1-for-2), Sydney Bellows (1-for-3), and Marlee Stanton all scored.

Knapp took the start in the circle to get her first career win. She struck out 10 with no walks, three hits, and one earned run.

Champluvier tossed an inning, striking out two with one walk, and on unearned run.

“We've been blessed to have two great freshman pitchers come in and they're gonna compliment Liv on the mound.” Pratt mentioned. “And Erinn [Knapp] was ready to go tonight. She was spot on.”

After Wellsboro went down 1-2-3 in the top of the first Ridall would reach third on an error in the bottom half of the inning to start things off for Troy.

She scored on an Ayres double, followed by Knapp driving in Ayres for a 2-0 lead. Knapp later scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0 Troy after one.

Palmer opened up the second with a double, then, after two outs, Ridall drew a walk to put two runners on. Ayres came through with a hit to score Palmer, and Ridall for a 5-0 lead.

Neither team scored in the third, with Wellsboro’s Paige Logsdon hitting a bomb in the top of the fourth to get the Hornets on the scoreboard, 5-1.

Troy answered in the fourth as Ridall reached again on an error, then scored on an Ayres ground out for a 6-1 ball game. The Trojans added another in the sixth when Stanton scored on a Palmer ground out for a 7-1 lead.

The Hornets pushed another run across in the top of the sixth, but Troy would end the game in the bottom half with a six run inning.

Bellows led off with a double, then scored on a Ridall hit. Ridall later scored on a wild pitch for a 9-2 lead.

Ayres kept things going with a double, then scored on a Champluvier hit two batters later. After another out James drew a walk to put two runners on.

Champluvier would score on a wild pitch, then Palmer hit a 2-run home run to end the game.

Troy (1-0) will hit the road next on Monday as they travel to Athens for their make-up from Thursday with a 4:30 p.m. start.

“Athens is solid,” Pratt noted. “The coach up there has done a great job with those girls, and they can hit the ball. The thing I think that they bring to the plate is that they can play small ball really well, but they also have the power to back that up. Just a great team up there. It should be a good one.”

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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING

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