NTL SOFTBALL: WYALUSING RETURNS WITH A BANG AS THEY TOP TROY (2021-05-06)

Northern Tier Sports Report
EAST TROY — It’s been nearly two weeks since Wyalusing softball took the field, but it didn’t show on Thursday, as they defeated Troy 10-1 in NTL action.

“I thought it was a good team effort,” said Ram coach John Loomis. “Almost everyone in the line-up had a solid hit. The starters hit the ball pretty good, hopefully we can get a little momentum here, and carry it for the rest of the season; what’s left of it.”

Sydney Friedlander (1-for-3) had the big hit, a 3-run home run that sparked a 7-run fourth inning for the Rams. She went on to score twice in the game.

“As soon as she hit it you knew it was gone,” said Loomis. “It just gave us such a huge lift.”

Hailey Jayne (1-for-4), Callie Bennett (1-for-3), Laci Norton (1-for-3), and Haley McGroarty (1-for-3) also had hits, while Danella Cornel (2-for-2) was perfect from the plate on the day, with a run scored, and an RBI.

Norton crossed home twice, with Jayne, Bennett, Imogen Herbert, McGroarty, and Kenlie Mignon also scoring.

McGroarty had 2-RBI on the day, with Jayne also bringing in a run.

Jayne was commanding in the circle, striking out 11 with three hits, one walk, and one unearned run.

“I thought our battery did a pretty good job, Hailey Jayne and London Edwards work well together,” said Loomis. “Hailey did a nice job of moving the ball around. I thought our defense played pretty well, Callie Bennett laid out for a ground ball, and that sparked our team.”

Lindsay Steele (2-for-3) led the Trojans at the plate with a multi-hit game, bringing in a run as well, while Rachael Kingsley (1-for-3) had a triple. Olivia Tate (1-for-3) had a double with a run scored.

Steele took the loss, striking out nine, while allowing seven hits, eight walks, and 10 runs, eight of them earned.

In the top of the first Wyalusing got three runs, as Friedlander led off with a walk. Jayne drove her in with a single to put the Rams up 1-0.

Then with two outs Norton and Herbert drew back to back walks, with Jayne scoring on a pass ball during Herbert's at bat.

After an error Norton scored on a fielder's choice for their third run of the inning.

Troy got one back in the bottom half as Tate doubled, then scored on a Steele single to cut it to 3-1.

Then the fourth Cornell led off with a walk, as Mignon then reached on a fielder's choice to put two runners on.

That's when Friedlander hit a deep home run to make it 6-1.

After two outs back to back singles by Bennett, and Norton, followed by a walk to Herbert, loaded the bases. Then back to back errors off the bats of McGroarty, and Cornell drove in two runs each for the 10-1 lead.

Both teams are back in action Friday, as Troy travels to NP-Liberty, and Wyalusing faces Athens.

For Loomis, just being able to play was a win.

“It’s great to get out and play a game,” he said. “We were missing Jenelle Johns, who’s been doing an outstanding job, and we’re getting her back tomorrow.”

CUTLINE: Wyalusing’s Sidney Friedlander hits her home run against Troy…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING.