Recap

Before you read any further, find somewhere comfortable to sit, grab yourself a beverage, and get cozy because this game was rife with highlights and the video may get a little long!

Our lady Blue Streaks returned to form, playing formidable defense. We were shorthanded with Bella Stern (2nd) not playing due to injury. So, Coach Terry Bender mixed things up a bit moving May Castillo (SS) into the defensive line-up for the 1st time this season, as she had missed time due to an injury of her own, & Katie Moore (2nd) moved to the right at 2nd. They both proved rock solid posting 1.000% FPCT! May Castillo (SS) with 3 assists & 3 outs of her own on 6 chances, fielding some tough grounders in the 1st, 3rd, 4th, & 7th innings. Meanwhile Katie Moore (2nd) fielded 2 grounders in the 4th & caught a pop fly in the 7th. Ava Stern (P) poster 7 K’s, but more importantly they were at times when the Streaks needed them most!

The Blue Streaks started off HOT with an amazing play by Ashley Bryant (1st), fielding a tough ground ball up the line which took her to the ground, then made a diving tag for the out to end the inning.

The Top of the 2nd started ominously with a lead-off, solo HR by the Barons for the 1st score of the game. The defense quickly reset though picking off a runner attempting to steal 2nd & 2 K’s by Ava Stern (P). In the bottom of the 2nd Ava Stern (P) answered with her own HR, crushing the ball over the CF wall to tie the game.

In the Bottom of the 4th, Natalie Brownell (LF) knocked down a sacrifice bunt scoring Ava Stern (P) to take a narrow 2-1 lead. Ava Stern (P) had walked earlier & advanced to 3rd on a Paige Hughes (3rd) single smoked to RF.

Central answered back in the top of the 5th with 2 runs of their own for yet another lead change. Then the Lady Streaks grabbed their lunchpails & went to work. They tore the top off the game, scoring 6 runs in the bottom of the 5th. A lead from which the Barons could not recover. Ashley Bryant (1st) singled, scoring speedy Katie Moore (2nd), who had singled earlier & advanced to 2nd on an Ellie Comerford (RF) single, tying the game. Next up, Sara Hess (C) doubled on an explosion to CF just out of reach of the SS, scoring Ellie Comerford (RF) for a lead from which Township never looked back. May Castillo (SS) rocketed a line drive to LF with Ashley Bryant (1st) scoring from 3rd and advancing Sara Hess (C) to 3rd. May Castillo (SS) advanced to 2nd on an error by the Barons. So, with runners on 2nd & 3rd, Central opted to intentionally walk Ava Stern (P), who had homered in the 2nd, loading the bases with 0 outs. Natalie Brownell (LF) hammered a double to the warning track in deep LF clearing the bases, scoring Sara Hess (C), May Castillo (SS), & Ava Stern (P) to further pad the Streak’s lead.

The Barons had one last gasp hitting a 2 run HR in the 7th, but the damage was done & our Lady Streaks emerge victorious 8-5 ending their 4-game home stand.

The Blue Streaks will hit the road with tough games next week at rival Hempfield on Wednesday, April 2nd & at Solanco on Friday, April 4th. Now wait, April? What happened? Where did March go? First pitch for both games start at 4:15pm. Be sure to click on the links to take you to the details for the games, and directions to the fields in the details for each. Solanco is a bit of a haul, so be sure to plan your travel accordingly so as not to miss a moment of our Lady Streaks fantastic play.

I am not sure what I am going to do with myself for the next 5 days but see you all at Hempfield!

Manheim Township High School Varsity Softball Diamond 115 Blue Streak Blvd Lancaster, PA 17601