Local roundup: Hughesville softball a win away from first playoff berth since 2018
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Hughesville softball is a victory from its first playoff berth since 2018 after thumping Wellsboro, 20-4 in five innings Thursday. The Spartans (9-6) have won seven straight games, scoring 96 runs in those victories while topping 10 hits each time.
Addy Knight led a 13-hit attack, making a run at the cycle and going 4 for 5 with a home run, two triples, a double, five RBIs and four runs. Addison Detweiler and Jayla Koser each had two hits, with Detweiler belting two doubles. Koser also had a double and scored twice. Maddie Smith was 1 for 2, scoring four times and stealing two bases.
Ashlyn Barlett hit a two-run double and winning pitcher Ella Breneisen, Avery Puderbach and Maddie Miller all had hits and RBIs. Breneisen and Loralie Bennett combined on a four-hitter with seven strikeouts.
North Penn-Liberty defeated Troy, 14-1, to win back-to-back Northern Tier League titles. Nikki Kiscadden (2 for 4, tworuns), Peyton Chapel (2 for 5, RBI, run) and Meghan Spohn (2 for 4) all had two hits apiece. Haley Litzelman had two RBIs as did Marissa Griess.
Madison Miller had a monster game by going 4 for 5 with a home run, seven RBIs and three runs scored as Montgomery defeated St. John Neumann, 21-2, in five innings.
Addi Muhl was 3 for 3 and Addi Cross went 2 for 4 with three RBIs and four runs scored. Neumann was led by Tatum Wesneski, who was 1 for 2 with a double.
• Patriot League Player of the Year Sean Keys, senior pitcher Graeme Carroll and junior shortstop Brady Karp earned spots on the Academic All-Patriot League Baseball Team on Thursday. Bucknell claimed a co-league-high three of the 13 selections.
Keys, a junior third baseman, was announced as the Player of the Year and a First Team All-Patriot League honoree on Wednesday. Not only has he been the league's top hitter this season, but he also carries a 3.58 grade-point average in mechanical engineering.
The team co-captain is leading the conference in every percentage category (.416 average, .535 on-base percentage, .825 slugging percentage, 1.360 OPS) as well as hits (64), runs batted in (57), and doubles (18).
Carroll has been one of the team's most valuable relief pitchers in 2024. He leads the team with 19 appearances and has a 5-0 record with a 4.99 earned run average.
Karp is in his first season as Bucknell's starting shortstop. He has been outstanding defensively with only two errors in 29 games, and after a slow start at the plate, he has become a reliable on-base guy at the bottom of Bucknell's potent lineup.
• The Bucknell Bison softball team (19-25) defeated the second-seeded Lehigh Mountain Hawks (30-19) in a 1-0 thriller to win a first-round game in the Patriot League Tournament. It is Bucknell’s first tourney win since 2019 and the first victory in the opening round since 2018.
Madison Roukey, after winning second-team All-Patriot League honors this week, dominated the Mountain Hawks in a scoreless gem. The pitcher did not allow a single Mountain Hawk to reach third base. Bucknell’s lone run arrived in the first inning on a MaKenzie Hilling RBI double.
“I’m just proud of the performance today. We’ve been talking about just being better than who we play. We don’t have to be perfect or do too much. We just have to be a little better and get the win and it was so fun to see us compete and find a way,” Bucknell coach Sarah Caffrey said. “There are not enough great things to say about Madison’s performance. She made tremendous adjustments and just kept them off balance the entire day. I think scoring the first inning set the tone for the entire game.”
Bucknell jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Haley Speicher hit a soft single out of the second baseman’s reach, and then Second Team All-Patriot League first baseman Hilling slammed a double over the right fielder’s head. The ball bounced off the fence, allowing Speicher to dart home for the opening salvo.
Neither team advanced much of a threat after the opening inning as flashy defense and stringy pitching prevented many baserunners. Bucknell opened several frames with leadoff singles but did not capitalize on the advantages.
Bella Radican prevented a Lehigh baserunner in the fourth inning with a spectacular diving catch on a pop fly behind the bag.
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
Hughesville 20, Wellsboro 4
(5 INNINGS)
Hughesville 205 (11)2 – 20 13 0
Wellsboro 010 30 – 4 3 0
Ella Breneisen, Loralie Bennett (4) and Addison Detweiler. Mazie Johnson, Paige Logsdon (3) and Abby Owlett. W-Breneisen. L-Johnson.
Top Hughesville hitters: Addy Knight 4-5, HR, 2 3B, 5 RBIs, 4 runs; Addison Detweiler 2-3, 2 2B, 2 runs; Jayla Koser 2-3, 2B, 2 runs Maddie Smith 1-2, 4R, 2 SB; Avery Puderbach 1-3, RBI, 3 runs, 2 SB; Ashlynn Barlett 1-3, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2R; Ella Breneisen 1-3, RBI; Maddie Miller 1-3, RBI, run.
Records: Hughesville (9-6)
N.P.-Liberty 14, Troy 1
N.P.-Liberty 133 011 5 -- 14 11 1
Troy 000 010 0 -- 1 4 10
W: M. Tice. L: Ridall.
Top Liberty hitters: M. Spohn 2-4; H. Litzelman 1-5, 2 RBIs; P. Chapel 2-5, RBI, run; N. Kiscadden 2-4, 2 runs; M. Griess 1-5, 2 RBIs, run. Top Troy hitters: Stanton 2-3, RBI, run.
Montgomery 21, Neumann 2
(5 INNINGS)
Montgomery 227 37 -- 21 15 0
Neumann 000 20 -- 2 5 0
W: Hartman. L: Weller.
Top Montgomery hitters: Addi Cross 3-4, 3 RBIs, 4 runs; Madison Miller 4-5, HR, 7 RBIs, 3 runs; Addi Muhl 3-3, RBI, 2 BBs, 2 runs. Top Neumann hitters: Lizzie Weller 1-2; Tatum Wesneski 1-2, 2B; Savannah Smith 1-2; Addy Dawes 1-2.
BOYS TENNIS
LEAGUE STANDINGS
DIVISION I W-L
Danville 12-0
Central Columbia 9-3
Montoursville 7-5
Hughesville 6-6
Loyalsock 5-7
Bloomsburg 2-10
Mifflinburg 0-12
DIVISION II W-L
Lewisburg 12-0
Central Mountain 10-2
Selinsgrove 8-4
Jersey Shore 6-6
Shikellamy 3-9
Milton 2-10
Williamsport 1-11