Abby Kalkowski, Seneca Valley softball strand Pine-Richland in another big WPIAL section win
JACKSON TWP — No one is supposed to play in traffic. Abby Kalkowski did a nice job of it, regardless.
Seneca Valley’s senior pitcher stranded 10 runners — six in scoring position — in leading the Raiders to a 5-2 WPIAL Section 1-6A softball victory over Pine-Richland on the Raiders’ diamond Friday afternoon.
“Pine-Richland always has good hitters, and they’re going to get runners on base,” Kalkowski said. “When they did, I just had to stay focused and throw strikes.”
The Rams (6-9, 5-8) left runners in scoring position in the second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh innings. Ironically, the only time they broke through against Kalkowski was after two were out and no one on in the fifth.
“That’s what we’ve been doing all year,” Pine-Richland coach Sam Hartzberg said of stranding runners. “We just haven’t gotten the timely hitting.”
Kalkowski struck out 10 on the day, scattering nine hits.
The Raiders (12-2, 10-2) had a 4-0 lead by that point, scoring twice in the first and second frames.
“Abby did a great job of keeping her composure. She always does in those situations,” SV coach Joe DeCristoforo said of stranding runners. “Our energy level wasn’t where it needed to be for much of this game. We have to learn from that.”
Kalkowski had a run-scoring double off the right-field fence in the first inning. She scored on a two-out single to center by Paige Volz.
Harlee Hornick led off the Raider second with a home run to center. Brie White beat out a ground ball to third, moved up on an infield out, stole third and scored on a Kalkowski single to center. That gave SV the early 4-0 edge.
“We seemed to let down a bit, went on cruise control, after that,” Kalkowski said. “We stopped hitting and relied on our defense to make the plays. Our defense did that, but we can’t play that way.
“It’s a dangerous way to play the game.”
Pine-Richland put SV in the danger zone in the fifth. After the two outs, Abbey Laurent walked and stole second, Norah Churry delivered an RBI-single to center. Ruth Hartzell followed with a bloop single to right, Churry scoring when the ball got past the right fielder.
The Raiders added an insurance run in the sixth. Emry Rice singled up the middle, the ball deflecting off pitcher Ellie Myers. She stole second, moved to third when a teammate was picked off first, then scored on a passed ball.
“That run was like a sigh of relief,” Kalkowski said. “It felt better with that added cushion going into the seventh.”
Emry Rice had two singles and two runs scored for the Raiders. Julia Valasak walked three times as the top of SV’s lineup — Rice, Valasak and Kalkowski — reached base eight times.
SV swept the season series from Pine-Richland, winning 13-10 earlier in the year. Both Raider losses this spring are to unbeaten section leader Hempfield.
“We had a bunch of walks and errors in that game,” Hartzberg said. “We’re young (three senior starters), and we’re playing much better. Ellie is a sophomore pitcher and finished strong after a rough start. She never gets rattled.”
The Raiders return to action Monday at Norwin. A suspended game will be completed at 2:30 p.m., followed by the scheduled contest.
Pine-Richland 000 020 0 — 2 9 0
Seneca Valley 220 0021 x — 5 9 1
WP: Abby Kalkowski 7IP (10so,3bb). LP: Ellie Myers 6IP (2so,5bb).
Pine-Richland (6-9, 5-8): Noelle Ionadi 1B, Sydney Bezila 1B, Abbey Laurent 1B, Norah Churry 1B RBI, Ruth Hartzell 1B, Scarlett Edgerly 2-1B, Catie Scholl 1B, Maya Rippole 1B.
Seneca Valley (12-2, 10-2): Emry Rice 2-1B 2-R, Abby Kalkowski 2B 1B 2-RBIs, Paige Volz 1B RBI, Hannah Hornick 1B, Harlee Hornick HR 1B, Brie White 1B.
Monday: Seneca Valley at Norwin
