Northern Tier Sports ReportEAST TROY — The first time Troy played Williamson they had to rally for an 8-7 win. On Tuesday they left no doubt, beating the Warriors 10-0 in five innings during the District IV, Class AA softball quarterfinals.
“The team played well as a unit both offensively and defensively,” said coach Wayne Pratt. “Erinn pitched a great game, keeping the Warriors off the bases. We had some clutch plays defensively to thwart any momentum shifts. Williamson’s catcher was outstanding behind the plate, stopping us from running.”
Knapp tossed a 1-hitter with three walks and seven strikeouts during the five innings of work.
At the plate Troy had nine hits as Amber James (3-for-3) was perfect from the plate, with a double, 3-RBI, and a run scored.
Marlee Stanton (2-for-3) scored twice, and had 2-RBI, as Lauren Ridall (1-for-3) had a home run.
Haidyn Watson (1-for-2) had a triple with a run scored, with Madi Palmer (1-for-2) scoring twice.
Olivia Champluvier (1-for-3) had an RBI, with Kali Ayres crossing home twice, and Lauren Reed once.
The Trojans jumped out with two runs in the first, then added another in the second. Three pushed three across in the third, then finished the game off with four in the fourth.
Ayres got things started in the first by reaching on a 1-out error. She would score on a Palmer hit for the 1-0 lead.
A 2-out James single brought in Palmer to put the Trojans up two.
In the third Watson rocked a triple, then scored on an error off the bat of Ridall to make it 3-0.
Reed got things started in the third as she reached on an error, followed by James hitting a double. Both would score on a Stanton hit for the 5-0 lead.
Stanton made it 6-0 as she reached home on an error.
Ridall opened up the fourth with a solo shot to make it 7-0. That was followed by walks to Ayres and Palmer, setting up a 2-run single from James for a 9-0 ball game.
Stanton would keep the at bat going with a single, followed by a Champluvier hit driving in Stanton for the 10-0 final.
Troy is slated to take on Northwest, 4-2 winners over Muncy, in the semifinals on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. in Elm Park, weather permitting.
“We will now go back to work tomorrow to prepare for Northwest,” Pratt said.
——
PHOTOS BY JOE CARREON
