Lancers Pull Away From Mounties in Home Opener
By: Caleb Albaugh | NTL Sports | April 5, 2019 | Photo courtesy Caleb Albaugh
Summer McNulty knew where she wanted to hit the ball: Center field and over the fence. That was exactly where she hit it. McNulty rocketed a ball over the centerfield fence, ending Loyalsock’s game against South Williamsport 16-4 with a three-run home run.
“We really wanted to get one more run so Junior Varsity could play because we were excited for them,” McNulty said. “It was great for me, because in the earlier innings I was not hitting well and the home run was a confidence booster for me.”
Loyalsock’s pitcher Juliana Cruz played extremely well. She struck out nine batters including a perfect second inning with all strikeouts.
“When we go out we try to do the best we can,” Cruz said. “I have a perfect defense behind me which means I have to pitch strikes. If I pitch strikes they can put the ball in play and back me up to get the three outs easier.”
Offensively, she stole three bases, had two base hits, three runs, two RBIs, and a walk which all contributed to the Lancer’s first home win of the season.
Loyalsock coach Mark Godfrey also had some words to say about his team, referring to how the other seven starters had played well in their game today. “Our whole team is taking everything the coaches say and applying it to game situations which is why they came out on top today and played extremely well.”
Some other key plays were Megan Reitz’s solo home run in the fifth inning, and Sam Stopper’s two-run home run later that inning to raise the score to 7-4. The Mountaineers tied the game 4-4 in the fourth inning when a three-run home run was hit to centerfield, shocking the Lancers. They knew at that point it was time to step up their game.
