Avonworth defeats Freeport to garner PIAA softball playoffs berth

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, May 29, 2018 | 9:36 PM

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During Freeport softball's run to an undefeated regular season and section title, the team always seemed to find the big hit, like Ally DeJidas' three-run homer against Burrell that sparked a comeback win or Ashleigh Schmidt's two-run single against Deer Lakes that broke a tie in the sixth inning.

With a PIAA playoff berth on the line Tuesday, Avonworth pitcher Maya Kozup limited the Yellowjackets' opportunities for a big hit, and even when they made good contact, they hit it right at someone, or a close call didn't go their way.

Kozup held the Yellowjackets to four hits and she had a one-out double in the fifth to push across the go-ahead runs in a 4-2 victory in the WPIAL Class 3A consolation game at Hampton Community Park.

Avonworth (14-7) advanced to the state tournament for the first time since 2009, where it will face District 10 champion Hickory in the first round Monday at a site and time to be announced. Freeport's season ended at 13-2.

Kozup finished with five strikeouts in a complete-game effort and went 2 for 3 with a triple and a double. She limited Freeport to its lowest run output of the season, which was four on two occasions before Tuesday.

“I just tried to move the ball in and out against them, and the most important thing was staying calm in a situation like this,” Kozup said. “Making states feels really good, because it hasn't happened at Avonworth in a long time. It always feels good to make history.”

Kozup smacked a double up the middle that scored Domi Raught and Nat Marshall to put Avonworth in front 3-2 in the fifth. Prior to the go-ahead hit, Marshall bounced a pitch back to Freeport pitcher Tori Radvan, and she fired to third base trying to cut down Raught, who took off from second. The ball appeared to beat Raught, but the third base umpire said Raught slid under the tag, much to the dismay of the Freeport faithful sitting behind third base.

It was the second close call on the day that went against the Yellowjackets.

After DeJidas tripled home Radvan, in the third inning with two outs, Claire Crytzer ripped a pitch down the third-base line that would've scored DeJidas, but the home plate umpire ruled that the ball went foul. Crytzer grounded out to shortstop two pitches later and the runner was stranded.

“The chalk flew. I was an umpire for a long time and I know when the chalk flies it's a fair ball,” Freeport coach Sam Ross said. “There was no doubt about that one. They missed it. I normally don't say anything about umpiring, because they're part of the game, but the chalk flew on that one.

“The one at third base was a judgment call. You can't say the chalk flew on that one or anything definitive, but it was close.”

With two runners on and two outs in the top of the fifth, Crytzer ripped a liner to left, but it was right at Avonworth left fielder Abby Stanley, who made the catch. It was the last real threat from the Yellowjackets, because Kozup retired the final six batters she faced to preserve the victory.

“I can't say enough about Maya Kozup,” Avonworth coach Jenna Muncie said. “She's an astonishing player all-around, whether it's pitching, hitting, and she's even a really good outfielder too. She's a competitor, and I'm just so proud of her.”

DeJidas had two triples for the Yellowjackets and was intentionally walked once. Ashleigh Schmidt singled and scored on an RBI double by Radvan in the fifth. Kozup, a junior, allowed only one other base runner — a lead-off walk to Jenna Hildebrand in the second.

“We knew they were a good hitting team, and we just wanted Maya to do what she does best, which is throw her pitches and get ahead in counts,” Muncie said. “We knew that (DeJidas) could hit and she proved it, but we tried our best to contain her. They hit the ball hard, but we made the plays.”

Radvan struck out two over five innings in the loss. She stranded runners at second and third with no one out in the second, which started by stabbing a sharp line drive off the bat of Maddy Perry. Zoey Perry had a bunt attempt hit her in fair territory for an automatic second out, and Radvan got Raught to pop out to shortstop for the third out.

“With the heat today I give both (Radvan) and (Kozup) a lot of credit,” Ross said. “They both pitched really well on a hot day.”

Freeport graduates five seniors — Crytzer, Hildebrand, Schmidt, Jenna Manke and Becca Fennell — all of whom were in the starting lineup Tuesday. The Yellowjackets return DeJidas, who finished the season with seven homers and a .622 batting average, and Radvan, the team's ace.

“We just lost five seniors who have been with us for four years, and it's hard to see them go,” Ross said. “They were a good group of girls. I told them they didn't share that (section title) with anybody. It's a tough section, and to come out of it undefeated was a really good accomplishment.

“With Ally and Tori coming back leading the charge, we have some nice players there. We had two freshmen start this year in Emily Schmidt and Maya Borghol who are good players too.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer.

Tags: Avonworth, Freeport