No. 2 Bethel Park takes down No. 3 Baldwin in Section 1-6A

By: Jack Hillgrove
Tuesday, April 16, 2019 | 11:07 PM

A typical clash between two top teams in the section is usually a recipe for a tight game, but that was not the case Tuesday evening.

No. 2-ranked Bethel Park opened a six-run lead in the top of the first inning and didn’t look back en route to a 14-4 victory over No. 3 Baldwin in a Section 1-6A softball game shortened to five innings by the mercy rule.

“Bethel is a good hitting team,” Baldwin first-year coach Gina Fuchs said. “They have a lot of good hitters, and they can hit the ball one through nine.”

Bethel Park did exactly that. The first five players in the lineup scored — freshmen Ali Snigocki and Sandra Solters, sophomores Gianna Schuillo and Reagan Milliken, and junior Shayna Postler.

Baldwin has been led all season long by senior pitcher Adeline Tagg. Through the first eight games, Baldwin has only given up 12 runs, but one walk and four hits in the first inning led to six quick runs for Bethel Park.

While Baldwin was not able to accumulate enough runs to make a comeback, Fuchs thought her team was still solid at the plate.

“We hit the ball right at people a couple of times, but it’s one of those things where they just kept attacking by scoring multiple runs in innings after that,” Fuchs said.

The Fighting Highlanders were led at the plate by junior Cassie Carlson and Tagg, who each were 1 for 3. Junior first baseman Shelby Kozarian went 1 for 1, with a walk and run scored.

Tagg was pulled in the middle of the third inning for freshman Brookelle Holby, who started the game as the designated player. Holby needed to make all three outs, and she did just that, by striking out the three batters she faced.

“She did a great job,” Fuchs said. “She slowed things down, she gave us good pitches, and gave their batters a different look.”

Baldwin will be back in action at Upper St. Clair on Wednesday and will get a rematch with Bethel Park on May 3.

“We have to get ahead,” Fuchs said of the rematch. “I think we’ll have more success next time if we hit in better spots and work ahead.”

Tags: Baldwin, Bethel Park