HAWKS TOP RAIDERS
Pitcher Hailey Strunk allows one run on three hits in seven innings and goes 2-for-3 with a double to lead Hamburg to a 3-1 win over Twin Valley
Using last season’s losses as motivation, Hamburg took down the defending county champions on Wednesday.
The Hawks avenged their two losses to Twin Valley from last season, defeating the Raiders 3-1 in a Berks Softball League Division II game at Hamburg.
“Last year, they were the only (Berks) team we lost to,” Hawks pitcher Hailey Strunk said. “We wanted this one real bad.”
Strunk led Hamburg in the circle and at the plate, tossing a complete game and registering two hits. Strunk stifled the Raiders, allowing just one run and three hits.
“(I was) just working my pitches,” Strunk said. “(I was) seeing where the batters were and just going off of what their weaknesses were.”
Strunk, a sophomore, allowed her lone run in the first inning on an RBI single by right fielder Casey Levan. The single scored shortstop Liv Litchner, who led off the game with a hit.
The Hawks responded immediately, scoring two runs in their half of the first to take the lead. After a leadoff triple from right fielder Kylah Reading, center fielder Amelia Gassert followed with an RBI single.
“(I was) waiting for my pitch,” Reading said. “Coming off some big games last week (and) getting some big hits, I needed to bring it down a level.”
After a hit by Strunk, Hamburg first baseman Skylar Shuman followed with an RBI single, knocking in Gassert to
make it 2-1. Strunk and Shuman both went 2-for-3 with a double.
“(I was) taking my pitch,” Strunk said. “You had to wait for your pitch.”
The score remained 2-1 through the next four innings, as both pitchers threw effectively. Raiders pitcher Erin Cromwell allowed three runs
in six innings.
The Hawks scored an insurance run in the sixth, as an RBI single from catcher Shayna Morales allowed pinch-runner Alexa Burkey to scoot home and make it 3-1. Hamburg finished with seven hits.
“This was a huge win,” Strunk said. “We really worked as a team.”
With the win, Hamburg (2-0 Berks II, 7-0) remains undefeated and takes sole possession of first place in the division. The Hawks will play the Raiders (1-1 Berks II, 3-4) again on May 6 at Twin Valley.
“It’s (a) very big (win),” Reading said. “We love to beat Twin Valley.”