ADAMS TWP — As one of five starters who returned from Beaver’s 2021 WPIAL and PIAA championship softball team, Payton List is used to grabbing the headlines.

She turned in another stellar effort Monday, pitching a five-inning no-hitter with 10 strikeouts as the Bobcats dispatched Freeport, 10-0, in a WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal at Mars High School’s Centennial Field.

List also serves as her team’s lead-off hitter and was 2-for-2 while being intentionally walked twice by the Yellowjackets.

“That’s Payton being Payton,” said Beaver coach Amy Haggart. “She’s hitting near .600 this season and has seven or eight home runs. She seems to get better every game she plays.”

Before she impacted the game with her bat, List was well on her way to making it a frustrating day at the plate for Freeport (10-7).

Her only blemish Monday was a one-out walk to Sydney Selker in the top of the first inning. Selker advanced to second base on a passed ball, but List struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning unscathed.

That began a string of six straight batters set down via strikeout and the Bobcats then buried the Yellowjackets with a nine-run third inning.

Selker, who looked strong over the first two innings, walked Ashlee Karas to begin the frame. List followed with a single and Samantha Springman was intentionaly walked to load the bases with one out.

Another free pass to Hanna Crowe forced in the game’s first run. Kayla Cornell’s single landed just inside the foul line behind third base and Chloe List brought home two more runs with a base hit.

Alexandria Slipko doubled home two runs and Selker was soon relieved in the circle by Autumn Powell.

“They got a couple of flare hits to get things going there,” said Freeport coach Sam Ross. “We’ve won games and lost games like that. That’s softball and we’re not making any excuses.”

Freeport was again set down in order in the fourth and fifth. The game ended via mercy rule in the bottom of the fifth when Payton List doubled and scored when Taylor Young’s base hit was misplayed in the outfield.

Beaver (17-0) has now won 38 straight games dating back to last season.

“”I told the team after we closed the regular season against Laurel (a 6-1 win) that the target on our back just grew,“ Haggart said. ”I knew once we got going today that we’d be unstoppable. I have confidence in the whole lineup.“

Playing their final game for Freeport were seniors Autumn Powell, Natalie King, Maddie Shanta, Jenna Selker and Savanna Urik.

“We were one of the smallest (Class) 4A schools in the WPIAL,” Ross said. “Had only 12 players on the varsity roster and would’ve liked a few more, but we won a playoff game (8-1 over Central Valley). It was a great season.”

Freeport 000 00x x — 0 0 2

Beaver 009 01x x — 10 8 0

W: Payton List 5 IP (10K, 1BB). L: Sydney Selker 2.2 IP (1K, 6BB).

Beaver: Payton List 1B 2B 2R, Taylor Young 2-1B 2RBI, Chloe List 2-1B R 2RBI, Alexandria Slipko 2B R 2RBI