ECC sweeps co-op diamond squads
On Monday, the Lady Crusaders improved to 8-3 with a Senior Recognition spoiling 16-1 fiveinning win in the Paper City over the 2-8 Ramettes. At Berwind Park in St. Marys, 4-6, ECC beat the Rams 11-1. It was the thirdstraight loss for the 6-4 co-op.
Softball
J-burg seniors Shelby Sorg and Emma Chiesa and Elk Catholic's Syd Alexander, Reagan Bauer, Mackenzie Bille, Kiri Emmert, Sarah Hasselman, Lucy Klawuhn, and Emily Mourer were recognized before the contest.
After the Lady Crusaders scored five runs in the fourth and six in the fifth, upping their lead to the final 15, the Ramettes could not keep the game going after five (15-run rule).
ECC, which scored two in the first and three in the third, took advantage of 10 errors while getting 11 hits off Natalie Dunworth – who struck out four and walked one while throwing 100 pitches. Ten of the runs were unearned.
Dunworth scored her team's lone run. After opening the inning with a triple, she was brought home by a Sorg sacrifice fly in the third. The junior also doubled off Mourer, who finished the game with seven strikeouts and no walks.
Junior second baseman Meghan Tettis had two hits for the Ramettes, and freshman Dana Beimel had a single.
Klawuhn had had a double and single to up her consecutivegame hit streak to 11. Alexander and Emmert
also had a pair of hits for the Lady Crusaders, who finished with 11.
The co-op opens Wednesday's Elk County Tournament against St. Marys, and the Lady Crusaders play Redbank Valley. The championship and consolation games will be played after those games at Benzinger Park.
Seniors
"From day-one, Shelby has been a starter in the outfield for us, and she's been through it all," said Paper City head coach Gary Gerber. "She helped lead us to the district championship (2A, 2022) and has certainly left her mark on the program. She's been through ups and downs but is always consistent and battling to the end. She's a great example for our younger girls, and I'm happy I've had a chance to coach her."
The Ramette coach praised Chiesa, who, while never playing before, decided to join the team that needed more players.
"Emma stepped up when we didn't have the numbers, and we really appreciate that. While we haven't had to use her yet, we're happy to have her here doing anything to help."
Baseball
Junior Derek Beimel scored the Ram's run in the first. He walked with one out, went to second on a walk to senior Luke Zimmerman, who is recovering from injury, and made it 1-0 on fielder's choice by senior Eric Hoffman, who was called out at the plate while trying to score on a single by junior catcher Rocco Delhunty.
The Crusaders scored two in the bottom of the frame and added four in the second and five in the third.
Senior Cameron Larkin started and pitched into the second when senior Nicky Myers came in with the Rams down 3-1. Sophomore Frank Miller pitched the fourth. Mathew Gilmore had three of the 13 Crusader hits, including two doubles and three RBIs. Lance O'Neil had two hits and knocked in five Crusaders, and Colby Nussbaum, who took over for Gilmore on the mound to start the fourth, had a pair of hits.
The teams play again on Wednesday to open the Elk County Tournament at Berwind Park. St. Marys and Port Allegany play after that game, and the consolation and championship games are on Thursday.
Elk County Catholic 16, Ramettes 1 (5 innings)
Wyatt Brem 0-2-0-0, Charlie Geci 1-2-0-0, Jake Ruffner 0-1-0-1, Tom Gilmore 0-1-0-0, Pat Forester 1-2-0-1, Chase Simbeck 2-2-0-2, Kevin Millet 0-0-0-2, Gideon Cronk 1-2-1-1, Brady Leathers 0-0-0-0, Noah Lion 0-1-0-0, 1323-11-11.
2B: J 0, ECC 4-Gilmore (2), Cronk, BB:
O'Neill. J 2-Beimel, Zimmerman; ECC 3-Smith, Brem, Millet. J 1-Danekas
J 0; ECC 1-O'Neill. J 0; ECC 3-Nussbaum, O'Neill, Simbeck.
HBP: SF: SB: IP-H-R-ER-SO-W-HBPitches Elk County Catholic:
Mathew Gilmore 3-2-11-0-2-1-39,
Colby Nussbaum 2-0-0-0-1-0-0-23, Totals 5-2-1-1-1-2-62.
Cameron Larkin 1.1-5-5-5-11-0-44, Nicky Myers 1.28-6-6-1-1-0-58, Frank Miller 1-0-0-0-0-0-0-10, Totals 4-13-11-11-2-30-112.
*ECC scoring used.