Butka, Dougher lead West past Prep
Apr. 20—SCRANTON — West Scranton coach E.J. Dougher emphasized to his team how important it will be for the Invaders to be able to lay down a bunt and move runners — if they want to be successful.
That just wasn't the case Monday.
Twice, his best hitters were called upon to bunt runners in from third base. Both times they failed. Both times they followed with key hits.
Winning pitcher Mia Butka tripled in a run and Olivia Dougher laced a two-run single to cap a four-run third, and as the Invaders remained undefeated, topping Scranton Prep, 5-2, in a Lackawanna League Division I softball game Monday.
"The funniest thing is that we've been working on our bunting for the last few games," E.J. Dougher said. "For us to be successful this year, we really have to move runners.
"You get a cushion for Mia Butka and you're feeling comfortable."
It was Prep (1-3 league, 2-4 overall) that got comfortable early as Maris Hiller drilled a double down the third-base line and scored on a booted grounder to give the Classics a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
Junior catcher Julia Aris tied the game in the third with her first career homer, swatting an outside 1-2 offering over the right-field wall.
"I just went up and just swung, really," Aris said. "I just went for it.
"I was just trying to get on base and do me, really. I've had a rough time hitting and I think today really broke the ice for me to start hitting more."
It also opened the floodgates as West got four of its five hits — all up the middle or to the right side — off losing pitcher Marissa Kelly in the third.
"We've been working on it the last couple weeks," E.J. Dougher said. "There are so many good pitchers, and Kelly is a fantastic pitcher who was injured early in the season.
"Kids are hitting home runs left and right in batting practice. Everyone knows West Scranton and tries to pitch us away. We're teaching up the middle, right side. Get the barrel of the bat to the ball to the right side and we work on it constantly."
Maddie Maloney followed Aris' homer with a single through the right side, and after Butka bunted through a pitch, she golfed a two-strike triple into right center.
"It's crazy," Butka said of the hit missing the bunt. "It's just making sure you get the runs in. We work on that, making sure we get the runs in and leave no girls on base. Especially when it's a close game like this. You have to get everyone in."
Gianna Russo walked and stole second to set the table for Dougher, who also couldn't get a bunt down on the first strike she saw.
She made up for it quickly, hammering a 1-1 pitch through the middle to score Butka and Russo for a 4-1 lead.
"I wasn't trying to swing for the fences," Olivia Dougher said. "I was just trying to hit a line drive.
"Collectively as a team, we work to hit outside pitches and that's probably where our strength is. I was just up there thinking we need to get those runs in."
Prep managed just four hits off Butka, two of those coming in the fifth when Maria Belardi lined a triple to right center, and one out later, Kelly bashed an RBI double to the same spot.
Butka worked out of further trouble with her third strikeout of the inning.
"Mia's just unbelievable in tight situations because she never gets nervous out there," E.J. Dougher said. "She's nails on the mound."
Butka got that run back in the bottom of the inning when she singled home Maloney, who reached on a three-base error. Then she fanned the side in the seventh to polish off her nine-strikeout complete game.
West Scranton 5, Scranton Prep 2
Scranton Prep 100 010 0 — 2
West Scranton 004 010 x — 5
WP: Mia Butka 7IP, 4H, 2R, 1ER, 0BB, 9SO
LP: Marisa Kelly 6IP, 5H, 5R, 4ER, 2BB, 6SO
2B: Marisa Kelly (SP), Maris Hiller (SP). 3B: Maria Belardi (SP), Mia Butka (WS). HR: Julia Arias (WS).
Mid Valley 5, Lakeland 0
At Mid Valley, Maranda Runco threw a no-hitter with 17 strikeouts to lead the Spartanettes to a Division III win.
The only blemish for the sophomore ace was a hit-by-pitch in the sixth inning.
Lindsey Jason had a double, a run and an RBI for the winners.
Mid Valley 5, Lakeland 0
Lakeland 000 000 0 — 0
Mid Valley 400 100 x — 5
WP: Maranda Runco 7IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 17SO
LP: Joan Clauss-Walton 6IP, 8H, 5R, 4ER, 0BB, 6SO
2B: Lindsey Jason (MV), Zoe Zelinski (MV), Maranda Runco (MV), Madison Kizer (MV).
Old Forge 5, Holy Cross 1
At St. Anthony's Playground, Olivia Shimonis hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning to lead Old Forge.
Karen Sickle allowed one run and struck out nine to earn the victory.
Ashlyn McNally had a double and an RBI for Holy Cross.
Old Forge 5, Holy Cross 1
Old Forge 000 230 0 — 5
Holy Cross 000 100 0 — 1
WP: Karen Sickle 7IP, 7H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 9SO
LP: Erin McGee 7IP, 4H, 5R, 4ER, 4BB, 5SO
2B: Tia Polizzi (HC), Emma Clause (HC), Ashlyn McNally (HC), Mazzie Musgrave (OF). HR: Olivia Shimonis (OF).
Dunmore 7, Riverside 2
At Dunmore, Emily Conte went 4 for 4 with two doubles, two runs and four RBIs to lead the Lady Bucks.
Winning pitcher Moriah Murray had two hits and scored three runs.
Lexi Kostoff doubled and scored a run for Riverside.
Dunmore 7, Riverside 2
Riverside 000 000 2 — 2
Dunmore 310 300 x — 7
WP: Moriah Murray 7IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 10SO
LP: Maddy Aulisio 3IP, 8H, 6R, 4ER, 2BB, 2SO
2B: Lexi Kostoff (RIV), Emma Conte (DUN) 2.
Western Wayne 4, Carbondale Area 1
At Carbondale, winning pitcher Kaeli Romanowski allowed four hits and one run and struck out six and also went 3 for 3 with a double and two runs to lead Western Wayne.
Kennedy Mistishin doubled and drove in two for theLady Wildcats.
Madison Heenan homered for Carbondale Area.
Western Wayne 4, Carbondale Area 1
Western Wayne 102 100 0 — 4
Carbondale Area 100 000 0 — 1
WP: Kaeli Romanowski 7IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 6SO
LP: Madison Kelsch 7IP, 8H, 4R, 3ER, 2BB, 12SO
2B: Alex Gravine (WW), Kaeli Romanowski (WW), Kennedy Mistishin (WW). HR: Madison Heenan (CAR).
North Pocono 19, Wallenpaupack 17
At North Pocono, Madison Schriver hit the Lady Trojans' fourth homer of the game — a two-run shot with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to give North Pocono a Division II win.
Emily Blaine, Savannah Slater and Alexa Stevens also hit home runs for the winners.
Gabriella Passenti had a double, two home runs, and seven RBIs for Wallenpaupack.
North Pocono 19, Wallenpaupack 17
Wallenpaupack 901 420 1 — 17
North Pocono 200 393 2 — 19
WP: Julie Schriver 3.2IP, 11H, 10R, 7ER, 9BB, 6SO
LP: Natalie Meredick 4.2IP, 15H, 14R, 14ER, 6BB, 0SO
2B: Natalie Meredick (WAL) 3, Sarah Sassi (WAL), Lily Connor (NP) 2, Ainsley O'Donnell (NP), Julie Schriver (NP), Dakota Hubbard (WAL), Mia Scalese (NP). 3B: Natalie Meredick (WAL), Gabriella Passenti (WAL). HR: Emily Blaine (NP), Savannah Slater (NP), Alexa Stevens (NP), Gabriella Passenti (WAL) 2, Madison Schriver (NP).
Delaware Valley 8, Valley View 7
At Delaware Valley, Kaitlyn Hernandez hit a walk-off sacrifice fly to right field to score Avery Calvario and give the Lady Warriors a Division I-II crossover win.
Emily Henn homered and drove in two for the winners.
Ally Stafursky went 3 for 3 with a double and a home run, two runs and four RBIs for Valley View.
Delaware Valley 8, Valley View 7
Valley View 120 202 0 — 7
Delaware Valley 041 002 1 — 8
WP: Abby Kemp 1.1IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 2SO
LP: Tessa Stafursky 4.2IP, 6H, 4R, 4ER, 0BB, 4SO
2B: Celia Park (DV), Abby Kemp (DV), Ally Stafursky (VV). HR: Emily Henn (DV), Ally Stafursky (VV).
Forest City 8, Lackawanna Trail 4
At Forest City, Vanessa Hodges had a double and a home run and drove in four to lead the Lady Foresters.
Bella Pleska had two hits and scored three runs for the winners.
Carolena Ryon homered and drove in two for Lackawanna Trail.
Forest City 8, Lackawanna Trail 4
Lackawanna Trail 002 000 2 — 4
Forest City 320 003 x — 8
WP: Emily Gorton 7IP, 9H, 4R, 3ER, 1BB, 6SO
LP: Isabella Coleman 6IP, 9H, 8R, 6ER, 5BB, 0SO
2B: Vanessa Hodges (FC). HR: Vanessa Hodges (FC), Carolena Ryon (LT).
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