PUNXSUTAWNEY — The Lady Chucks picked up right where they left off from last year’s state title run.
The defending PIAA Class AAAA champions defeated Bradford 10-0 (five innings) in game one and 17-0 (three innings) in game two to take both ends of a doubleheader as the opener to each team’s 2019 campaign.
Madison Stonbraker Aureyanna Mauk had four RBI each over the two games, with five other Lady Chucks also having multi-RBI games.
Elliott Ferrent held Bradford hitless through five innings of work in the first game, and Bradford (0-1) could manage just two base knocks in the second.
“The girls kept their heads up throughout both games,” first-year coach Amy Stoltz said. “They stayed positive. Punxsy is a tough team, and given they are (the defending champs), I was very proud of how the girls played.”
Emily Warner and Adrienne Angell took the losses for the Lady Owls, which returns to play Monday at Johnsonburg.
Oswayo Valley 15, Smethport 8
SHINGLEHOUSE — Led by Karina West’s 17 strikeouts on the mound and four RBI at the dish, the Green Wave cruised to a season-opening win over Smethport.
West led a balanced offensive attack for Oswayo Valley (1-0, 1-0) that also saw Macy West pick up two extra-base hits, and Kelsey Turk and Makenzie Mesler two RBI each.
OV head coach Tim Morey also highlighted the play of freshman catcher Laya Phillips who filled in for a senior that was on vacation.
“She did a great job, had an RBI and two base hits,” Morey said. “I was impressed with the girls. We started a bunch of girls who hadn’t played much last year.”
The Green Wave scored at least two runs in every inning but the fourth, including four in the second and sixth.
Sam Tanner led the Lady Hubbers (0-1, 0-1) with a double and a two-run homer.
Cowanesque Valley 13, Coudersport 8
WESTFIELD — Cowanesque Valley put up 11 runs over the final two innings to stage a furious rally and hand the Lady Falcons their first loss of the season.
Trailing 8-2 heading into the sixth, the Lady Indians (1-1) pushed across five in that frame, led by a solo home run from Carmen Short.
Shaelyn Black pitched the entire game for Coudersport (1-1), allowing seven hits and striking out seven.
First-year head coach Trevor Saulter pinned the late-game collapse on some inexperience from his team.
“(Our inexperience) showed a lot in some key situations tonight,” he said. “Not knowing where to go with the ball, and things like that. There were a couple of mental errors as well as physical ones that hindered us those last two innings.”
Chelsey Streich had two base hits and scored twice to lead Coudy’s offense, and teammate Rosalyn Page added two hits.
