Montgomery suffers 9-1 loss in state playoffs to Holy Cross
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery players walk off the field after their 9-1 loss to Holy Cross in the first round of the PIAA Softball play-offs at Montgomery High School Monday.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Zoe Furman (22) heads for home to score on a double by Jenna Houseknect in the sixth inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery catcher Addison Gregor fields a pop-up for an out before throwing to first base for a second out in the first inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery center fielder Zoe furman (22) dives for a catch for an out in the fourth inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Arianna Snyder (10) is safe at third base as Holy Cross Kiera Bauman (25) fields the throw in the third inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Arianna Snyder (10) celebrates after hitting a triple in the third inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery center fielder Zoe Furman (22) chases down a fly ball for an out then throws to second for a force in the fifth inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Zoe Furman (22) is safe at first base as Holy Cross first baseman Maya DeSantis (52) waits for the throw in the sixth inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Zoe Furman (22) celebrates after scoring on a double by Jenna Houseknect in the sixth inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Jenna Houseknect (17) is tagged out by Holy Cross third baseman Kiera Hauman on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery short stop Arianna Snyder (10) fields a ground ball before throwing to first base for an out in the sixth inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery players walk off the field after their 9-1 loss to Holy Cross in the first round of the PIAA Softball play-offs at Montgomery High School Monday.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Zoe Furman (22) heads for home to score on a double by Jenna Houseknect in the sixth inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery catcher Addison Gregor fields a pop-up for an out before throwing to first base for a second out in the first inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery center fielder Zoe furman (22) dives for a catch for an out in the fourth inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Arianna Snyder (10) is safe at third base as Holy Cross Kiera Bauman (25) fields the throw in the third inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Arianna Snyder (10) celebrates after hitting a triple in the third inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery center fielder Zoe Furman (22) chases down a fly ball for an out then throws to second for a force in the fifth inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Zoe Furman (22) is safe at first base as Holy Cross first baseman Maya DeSantis (52) waits for the throw in the sixth inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Zoe Furman (22) celebrates after scoring on a double by Jenna Houseknect in the sixth inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Jenna Houseknect (17) is tagged out by Holy Cross third baseman Kiera Hauman on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery short stop Arianna Snyder (10) fields a ground ball before throwing to first base for an out in the sixth inning.
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MONTGOMERY -- A four-run top of the sixth inning gave Holy Cross a 5-0 lead against host Montgomery. The Red Raiders would score a run in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 5-1 deficit and seemed to have sparked a little momentum.
But as fast as that momentum was built, Holy Cross extinguished it.
The Crusaders scored four in the top of the seventh to seal the game and end Montgomery's season with a 9-1 victory in the first round of the PIAA Class A playoffs on Monday afternoon.
Montgomery was limited to four hits and couldn't get key hits against the Crusaders, who collected 11 hits.
Ariana Snyder had a triple as she finished the game going 1 for 2. She had Montgomery's only extra-base hit as the Red Raiders saw Zoe Furman go 1 for 3 with a run scored, Jenna Houseknecht go 1 for 3 with an RBI and Addison Greger go 1 for 3.
Ava Hartman threw 5 1/3 innings for Montgomery before Snyder relieved her for an inning and Houseknecht closed it with the final two-thirds of the seventh.
Holy Cross was led by Claire Helring, who went 2 for 4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored and Peyton Graboske, who also had a double. The Crusaders saw McKinley Griffiths go 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored, Maya DeSantis go 2 for 4 with three RBIs and Keira Bauman go 2 for 3 with an RBI.
Holy Cross 9, Montgomery 1
Holy Cross 000 104 4 -- 9 11 0
Montgomery 000 0010 -- 1 4 3
A. Schmidt and P. Graboske. A. Hartman, A. Snyder (6), J. Houseknecht (7) and A. Greger. W: Schmidt. L: Hartman.
Top Holy Cross hitters: C. Helring 2-4, 2B, RBI, 2 runs; M. Griffiths 2-4, RBI, 2 runs; M. DeSantis 2-4, 3 RBIs, run; K. Bauman 2-3, RBI; P. Graboske 1-3, 2B, RBI, 2 runs. Top Montgomery hitters: A. Snyder 1-2, 3B; J. houseknecht 1-3; Z. Furman 1-3, run; A. Greger 1-3.