HUGHESVILLE — Thursday evening saw Hughesville hosting Loyalsock in a softball game that was projected to be a good one. And it was, as the Lancers won 4-2 in spectacular fashion.

The game saw Addison Henninger of Hughesville and Easton Waller of Loyalsock facing in the circle. It was Addi Baroway from Loyalsock who started the game with a single to third and advanced to second on a wild throw to first.

“We switched up the line up here and moved Easton (Waller) into the three hole for a number of reasons. Addi has been swinging the bat well, plus trying to get some more girls on the base for Easton, Kensi (Phillips), and Lydia (Krescok),” Loyalsock coach Casey Waller said.

Baroway was able to touch home on a sacrifice fly from Easton Walker to open up the scoring in the first.

Waller was solid in the circle from the start, striking out the side in the first inning. Waller recorded her 200th career strike out in the win as she ended the game with 11 strikeouts to sit at 204 after Thursday’s contest.

“Easton went out there and competed, she had her pitches that were on and she challenged hitters. She’s a lot more confident on the mound, she wants the ball and she is just going to keep getting better. ” coach Waller said.

All in all, all three pitchers performed well. Waller allowed just four hits while Henninger and Maddie Smith combined to give up just four.

“I was proud of Easton today, she has been working hard all season and off season,” coach Waller added. “I feel like last year she was more of a thrower and this year she’s a lot more polished on the mound and she is only a sophomore, and I am very happy for her.”

The second inning saw more of the Lancers offense exploding as they scored three runs to make the score 4-0 when Baroway line the ball up the third base lin.

“We are trying to better understand the mental game because it’s a lot, so we are getting better every day. They are going to battle and come back and compete, and that’s why that double play in the sixth inning was huge for us, because we don’t want to see the top of the line up again.” coach Waller said.

In the third inning the Spartans brought in Maddie Smith to try to switch things up. Smith was able to take care of the Lancers to induce a three up, three down inning.

“Maddie is a two-time all state first-team shortstop, so ideally it’s a perfect world if we can keep her at shortstop, but sometimes first plans don’t necessarily survive first contact so we have to make the adjustments,” Spartan coach David Dimoff stated.

Smith was able to shut down the Lancers the rest of the game not allowing anyone else on the bases. The Spartan threw five perfect innings of relief softball, but it was too little too late as Hughesville wasn’t able to rally.

Baroway was Loyalsock’s lone batter to record multiple hits as she finished 2 for 3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Hughesville saw Adelyn Knight go 2 for 3 and Smith go 2 for 2 with two walks and a run scored.

“She’s delivered well, she has a high strikeout rate, good leadership skills, mixes the ball up a little bit more, but she’s difficult to beat in all aspects of the game, not only on the mound defensively, but on the bases as well.” Dimoff said of Smith.

The Spartans were able to get on the board in the fourth inning when Ashlynn Barlett was able to scoreo n an RBI single from Henninger. They kept the momentum rolling in the sixth inning as leadoff batter Maddie Smith was able to draw a walk to start the inning, she then stole second on the next pitch and then touch home after an error on the throw to first allowed her to advance.

The Lancers ended the inning by putting Addison in a pickle from third to home and were able to tag her out ending the inning and the Spartan rally.

Loyalsock 4, Hughesville 2

Loyalsock 130 000 0 — 4 4 3

Hughesville 000 101 0 — 2 4 1

Easton Waller and Shyla Fulp. Addison Henninger, Maddie Smith (4) and Kiana Peck. W: Easton Waller. L: Addison Henninger.

Top Loyalsock hitters: Addi Baroway 2-3, 3 RBIs, run. Top Hughesville hitters: Adelyn Knight 2-3; Maddie Smith 2-2, 2 BBs, run.