The Tyrone girls softball team dropped a tough 3-1 decision to Bald Eagle Area at the Harry K. Sickler Athletic Complex at Tyrone on Thursday afternoon.
Tied 1-1 after six complete innings, Bald Eagle Area, a state finalist last year, got a two-run triple by lead off hitter Danielle Noll to pull out the victory.
Bald Eagle Area opened the scoring with a solo run in the third inning, on a wild pitch and the Golden Eagles came back with the tying score in the bottom of the fouth.
Hilary McNelis, who now holds the Tyrone softball record for career hits, singled to open the inning. Missy Stager sacrificed McNelis to second and a BEA error advanced her to third. McNelis scored on an infield grounder hiit by Megan Turiano and when the Bald Eagle girls paid too much attention to McNelis, erred on trying to get Turiano, who was also safe on the error.
Brittany Rees outdueled McNelis to pick up the victory in what was an extremely tough pitching duel. Rees struck out a dozen Lady Eagles, giving up no earned runs, while walking one and scattering four hits. Rees also had a pair of base hits for the Bald Eagles and scored two runs for Bald Eagle Area.
Hilary McNelis fanned six and walked one for the Lady Eagles, who had their Senior Night spoiled by those other Eagles, the Bald Eagle Area Bald Eagles.
“Considering that Bald Eagle Area was a state finalist last year, we played probably the best gane of the year,” said Tyrone coach Lois Loncher. Hilary had her best game of the year, holding a team (BEA) which had six .300 hitters to just six hits. She was able to keep them off balance all game long. As a team, we have been playing solid softball right now.”
Bald Eagle Area 3 Tyrone 1
Bald Eagle Area – D. Noll, ss, 4-0-1; M. Noll, lf, 3-0-0; McClain, 2b, 3-0-2; Weaver, c, 2-0-0; Penland, rf, 3-0-0; Garner, dp, 3-0-0; Ranch, cf, 3-0-1; Rees, p, 3-2-2; Riser, 3b, 3-1-0; Kilmer, 1b, 0-0-0. TOTALS 27-3-6.
Tyrone- Whitby, cf, 3-0-0; McNelis, p, 3-1-1; Stager, ss, 2-0-1; Cherry, c, 2-0-0; Turiano, 3b, 3-0-0; McAllister, dp, 3-0-0; Stanton, 1b, 3-0-0; Ripka, lf, 3-0-1; Pennebaker, rf, 3-0-0; Bryan, 2b, 0-0-0. TOTALS 25-1-3.
Bald Eagle Area 001 000 2 3-6-2.
Tyrone 000 100 0 1-4-2.
3B: (BEA) D. Noll.
Multiple hits: (BEA) McClain 2, Rees 2.
RBI: (BEA) D. Noll 2, (T) Turiano.
SO: (BEA) Rees 12, (T) McNelis 6.
BB: (BEA) 1, (T) 1.
WP: Rees LP: McNelis.
