Clinton defeats Tunkhannock into Sectional Final Friday

WYALUSING, PA- The Clinton 10-12 softball team stayed alive as they trounced Tunkhannock for the second time in three days, downing the District 15 team, 11-1 in 5 innings. 

The D15 coach, reporting that he has just the one pitcher, rode the right arm of daughter Taryn Newswanger as long as he could, but in the end the powerful Clinton ladies were too much.

The Clintonians scored one in the bottom of the first when with two out, Aubrey Eiler drilled a triple to the fence. Her aggressive base-running caused an errant throw over the fence on a play at third allowing her to score the game’s first run.

The locals would load the bases in the second but Newswanger got out of the inning on a pop-up to Allison Kinney at third.

The bottom of the third was more productive, Eiler drew a walk; Camdyn Weaver singled, taking second on a throw to third. Cheyenne Weaver knocked them both in with a ringing double. Elise McKean followed with an RBI hit. 

In the home 4th, Maesyn Franquet was hit by a pitch to lead off. After two fly-outs, Camdyn Weaver walked. Cheyenne Weaver singled. Elise McKean came through with a two-run single to right. Mya Krout cleaned up the inning with a run-producing one-base hit, giving the Clinton team a 8-1 lead. 

Shawn Weaver’s team ended the game in the bottom of the 5th with a walk to Karson Ziddick, a single by winning pitcher Franquet, another IF single by Reagan Weaver loaded the bases. Aubrey Eiler plated a run when she got aboard on a fielder’s choice, then Camdyn Weaver beat out another infield tapper. The hitting star of the game Cheyenne Weaver ended the game with another RBI hit.

Franquet got the win, She started out with some control issues, but quickly figured that out and pitched a strong 5 innings. She struck out 9 and walked two. The only hit off her was an RBI double off the bat of Addison Waterman. This was her first start of the playoffs and she came through big time, giving the ace Camdyn Weaver a well-deserved night off.

Every batting position reached base safely at least once with seven of the nine getting at least one hit.

The girls will try to get revenge against Mifflinburg Friday night in a must-win to force another contest for all the marbles on Saturday. 

The line-score

Tunkhannock  0 0 1 0 0      1-1-2

Clinton      1 0 3 4 3      11-11-2