Power surge: Johnson蘑菇视频 home run in 8th inning lifts Lady Warriors to 1-0 win
NORTH HUNTINGDON 鈥� Elizabeth Forward coach Harry Rutherford played a hunch when he reentered Julia Johnson back into the game with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning in a scoreless game.
Johnson made the veteran coach蘑菇视频 hunch pay off when she lofted a fly ball over the left field field to lift the Lady Warriors to a 1-0 victory over Big Spring on Monday in the first round of the PIAA Class AAAA softball playoffs at Norwin High School.
Johnson was removed after two unproductive at-bats. According to Rutherford, it was his way of a wakeup call.
鈥淲e kind of hide her back there. A lot of times she loses confidence in herself. So, I took her out because she struck out twice and struck out on a ball that bounced three feet in front of the plate,鈥� explained Rutherford, adding, 鈥淪o, you have to send a message that I鈥檓 not happy with the way she蘑菇视频 approaching it.鈥�
Rutherford noticed how the outfield was playing and that蘑菇视频 when he decided to make the change.
鈥淚t was a hunch. When it came time, I looked at their three outfielders and they all came in again, and I said if she gets it she can put it over their heads,鈥� said Rutherford. 鈥淚 looked at their outfield coming up and coming up, and Julia is one of our power hitters.
鈥淎nd, it just happened she got a home run.鈥�
Elizabeth Forward had two opportunities to snap the scoreless tie in the previous two innings.
Addyson Nigut singled with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. Berlyn Holibaugh lifted a fly ball into short center field. Sydney Adler attempted a basket catch as she slid towards the infield, but the ball popped out her glove to give the Lady Warriors runners at second and third.
Maeve Hurley escaped the threat with two infield ground outs.
Julia Resnik ripped a two-out double in the bottom of the seventh inning. Shelby Telegdy was intentionally walked.
鈥淚 was looking for Shelby. It was a very brilliant move on his part to walk her,鈥� said Rutherford. 鈥淎bsolutely, I would鈥檝e done the same thing. I鈥檓 walking her every time.鈥�
Carlee Soukup followed with an infield ground ball that was bobbled by second baseman Sophie Wickard. Resnik hit third and kept going, heading for home.
Wickard gathered herself and fired the ball to the plate. Resnik hit the brakes and scampered back to third, eluding the rundown and slipping under the tag.
鈥淚f (Resnik) would鈥檝e gone in sliding, she might鈥檝e scored because the throw was really high going to the plate. If she would鈥檝e slid on the side of the plate and put her hand in, she probably would鈥檝e scored. She probably would鈥檝e got (under the tag),鈥� said Rutherford. 鈥淚 would鈥檝e preferred if she would鈥檝e kept on going and got thrown out at home.鈥�
Adler made a nifty running catch to kill the rally.
Neither pitcher allowed much offense through the first five innings.
Elizabeth Forward had four hits and stranded five runners against Hurley, who had just two strikeouts, but was supported by solid defense.
Telegdy was even tougher. She allowed singles in the first, second and seventh inning, and didn鈥檛 walk a batter. The right-hander struck out 11 and was also supported by solid defense.
The best chance for Big Spring was in the top of the fifth inning when Hurley蘑菇视频 fly ball was not caught cleanly for a two-base error. Hurley attempted to stretch the miscue into three bases, but Holibaugh蘑菇视频 relay was right on the mark to Nigut at third base for the second out.
鈥淪helby蘑菇视频 pitching was perfect. She hit most of the pitches that I called. We did double changes today, which we normally don鈥檛 do. They have some big home run hitters,鈥� said Rutherford.
Elizabeth Forward (21-1) advances to the PIAA quarterfinals on Thursday against Chartiers Valley (17-4), who upended District 10 champion Cathedral Prep.
The Lady Warriors defeated Chartiers Valley, 7-2, on their way to the WPIAL title.
Both Chartiers Valley and Big Spring were third-place teams coming out of the district playoffs.
鈥淭hat蘑菇视频 why you never take a third-place team lightly. We were third place last year, right?
We reminded the team yesterday what you did last year against Cathedral Prep. We ended up beating them 7-2,鈥� said Rutherford.
As for playing Chartiers Valley again, Rutherford added, 鈥淲e鈥檝e played them twice.
鈥淚 would love to come back here (at Norwin). We play well here.鈥�