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Clinton defeats Williamsport Area Little League, claims District 12 major softball title

By Evan Wheaton 4 min read

Though the District 12 major softball championship between Clinton and Williamsport Area Little League lasted just two and a half innings, it certainly felt lengthy.

Behind 15 two-out runs in the bottom of the second, Clinton flew out to a 17-0 win over Williamsport to claim the District 12 crown at Lycoming College's Shangraw Athletic Complex Tuesday.

"I think our girls just had some quality at-bats and understand you get three outs per inning for a reason," Clinton coach Shawn Weaver said. "You continue to battle and make things happen. Their pitcher threw well in that first inning, and our girls just battled."

Mallory Wunder hit a pair of doubles and Reagan Weaver knocked a double as well. Camdyn Weaver recorded two singles and Clinton made seven hits on the day.

After a walk, fielder's choice to first and a strikeout, a single from Maesyn Franquet put runners on the corners and set the stage for the rest of the game. Already up two runs after the first inning, Reagan Weaver unleashed a two RBI double to open the floodgates.

The vast majority of Clinton's two-out runs came with the help of walks and passed balls at the plate.

"At this level, you're gonna have that occasionally. You have to be aggressive and get those runs when you can," Weaver said on the wild pitches. "I think you have to build your team to make sure that you defensively don't have that. You have to make sure you don't have passed balls and hopefully your pitchers throw strikes. We did get some help in that regard tonight."

Jenna Houseknecht struck out the side in the first inning for Williamsport. She added one last strikeout in the second before being relieved by Brielle Thornton. Williamsport didn't make any hits at the plate, though a catcher's interference call was ruled a base hit.

Camdyn Weaver singled in the bottom of the first and a two-out error advanced her to third base on the play. Wunder then doubled her in for the first run of the game.

A wild pitch advanced Wunder to third and she took home plate on a dropped third strike afterward.

"We've got quite a few girls back from our team last year. Our team last year felt they were one of the top couple teams in the state, but lost to the team who won the state title, who probably would've made the World Series had a girl not gotten COVID," Weaver said. "Our girls, they have expectations. I will say that."

With another trip to the sectional tournament secured and arms well rested, Clinton awaits its next opponent as the playoff picture continues to take shape.

But Clinton Little League expects to be playing in August and has the confidence of a top team in Pennsylvania.

"We just gotta go prove it every time we go out there. I think in all three phases of the game, pitching, offense, defense, we have a chance," Weaver said. "There's no doubt in my mind. We have a chance."

Williamsport 000 -- 0 0 1

Clinton 2 15 x -- 17 7 0

Jenna Houseknecht, Brielle Thornton (2) and Abryanna Woodford. Camdyn Weaver and Reagan Weaver. W: Weaver. L: Houseknecht.

Top Clinton hitters: Mallory Wunder 2-2, 2B, 2 RBI; Reagan Weaver 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI; 2-2.

Starting at /week.