Freeport ekes out 3-2 triumph
FREEPORT — The contest got off to a gloomy start, with trickling rain and sudden wind gusts. Freeport’s day began accordingly.
Soon, white skies gave way to rays of sunshine and the Yellowjackets’ bats warmed up in enough time to nip Knoch, 3-2, in Section 1-4A softball action at Freeport Community Park Wednesday afternoon.
“We had to get our feet under us,” Freeport coach Sam Ross said. “A couple of breaks went our way ... Eventually, if you play hard, good teams make their own breaks. I think that happened today.”
Through four and a half innings, it looked as if Knoch was the more fortunate crew.
Madi Gardner worked a lead-off walk and came the whole way around for the Knights in the opening inning. The Yellowjackets (4-2, 2-1) got a pair on the basepaths their first time up and Savanna Urik singled to start the second. Both chances went by without any runs being scored.
For a stretch, neither team could string anything together. Starting with a runner on and no outs in the top of the second, Freeport pitcher Sydney Selker turned away eight consecutive challengers. Her offense, though, managed only two inconsequential hits in the first four innings.
By fanning Sophie Brandon with three offerings, Selker ducked a jam in the fourth. This after Taylor Davis broke Knoch’s dry spell by working a full-count walk and Brynne Smith reached on an error.
The Knights’ next time up, Gardner climbed out of an 0-2 hole at the plate and carved out another lead-off walk. She advanced to second on a wild pitch and was pushed across by Brynnae Coe’s ensuing single, doubling the lead to 2-0 for Knoch (1-4, 1-1).
It seemed as if it would make things harder on the Yellowjackets, who were playing their second game in as many days and still had yet to break through.
That didn’t take long to change. Shortcomings a season ago to the rival Knights stuck with Selker and the Yellowjackets, giving some added motivation to overcome the deficit.
“I think we were a little nervous coming back from last year (and) losing twice to them,” Selker said. “I think it was a bunch of nerves running through our heads the first inning ... We really wanted it.”
With two gone in their turn in the fifth, a pair of errors helped bring in Natalie King, who initially got on with a fielder’s choice. Urik singled up the middle shortly thereafter, plating Autumn Powell.
Following a scoreless top half, Abby Dejidas managed a one-out single in the bottom of the sixth. She tallied the go-ahead run on a wild pitch three batters later.
“We played well enough to win,” Knoch coach Gary Coe said. “A couple of errors took some wind out of our sails. But, we’re good. We’re bouncing back. This is the first we’ve played in forever it seems, with the rain.”
The clash was just the second for the Knights against a section opponent to this point.
Selker was credited with the victory and wound up going the distance, retiring the side in order in the seventh. She also punched out eight.
Knoch 100 010 0 — 2 3 3
Freeport 000 011 X
W: Sydney Selker 7IP (8K, 3BB). L: Brynnae Coe 6IP (7K, 4BB)
Knoch (1-4): Brynnae Coe 1B RBI, Sennett Purcell 1B, Taylor Davis 1B
Freeport (4-2): Abby Dejidas 2-1B R, Natalie King 1B 2B, Savanna Urik 2-1B RBI, Aimee Heasley 1B
Friday: Kiski at Knoch, McKeesport at Freeport
