Hometown Softball Program Game Recap – Brentwood – 04/27/2012

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, April 27, 2012 | 6:57 PM

The up and down season for Brentwood softball was on the upswing Friday in a must-win situation as the Spartans held off the Quaker Valley Quakers 6-4 to stay alive, for now, in the WPIAL Class AA Section 1 playoff chase.

Sydney Bauer got the ball rolling for Brentwood in the bottom of the first when after getting hit by a pitch, she stole second, took third on a passed ball and scored on a dropped third strike when Quakers catcher Emma Fortuna threw to first base to get Miranda Klein.

The Quakers took their lone lead in the top of the second on a two out single by Laura Wesnofske that scored both Rachel Dye and Rachel Smith.

Brentwood took the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning when Bauer reached on an error, stole second and took third on a passed ball. Alexandra Gibbons two-out single tied the game, then after a stolen base, Gibbons scored on a single by pitcher Meghan Gildea.

The Spartans added three runs in the fourth inning when Natalie Andrews scored on an Alexis Climes single and error. Climes scored on a Maggie McGowan ground out, then back to back triples by Bauer and Klein.

Quaker Valley would not go quiet though, as they scored in the sixth on a Rachel Smith single that scored Rachel Manko, who was running for Molly Harkins who had doubled. A couple of Spartans errors allowed another run in the seventh inning before Miranda Klein made another strong play at shortstop on a Sara Francis ground ball in the hole ended the game. Both Klein and second baseman Alexis Gaughan made several good defensive plays up the middle for the Spartans.

Gildea was the winning pitcher, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with one walk, one hit batter and six strike outs. What was amazing is 19 of the 21 batters retired by Gildea came ground outs (13) or strike outs.

They honored the seniors from both teams before the game and it was a quick ceremony with only 2 seniors for the Quakers and 3 for the Spartans. These young teams are worth watching in 2013.

Quaker Valley falls to 1-10 in the tough Class AA Section 1, 4-10 overall while Brentwood improved to 6-6 in the section, 7-7 overall. The Spartans amazingly have not won two in a row, but they have not lost two in a row this year either.

Tags: Brentwood