Freeport softball rolls
BUFFALO TWP — Freeport softball coach Sam Ross was looking for a good tune-up before his Yellowjackets entered the WPIAL playoffs.
Ten runs on 12 hits and a dominant pitching effort did the trick.
The 'Jackets jumped on Riverview starting pitcher Hannah Larkin, scoring eight runs in the first frame and went on to defeat the Raiders 10-0 in five innings Wednesday at Freeport High School.
The final score did not reflect the fact that the game was between two playoff-bound teams, Freeport (11-6) in Class AA and Riverview (11-7) in Class A.
“It was a great test for us,” said Raider coach Larry Kumar. “That's why we scheduled this game, to get us ready for the playoffs. Our weaknesses were exposed today, but after that first inning, I thought we played well.”
Aided by a trio of Raider errors, Freeport sent 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first. During the offensive outburst, Emily Lindsey doubled in a run and Ashley Sample's base hit brought home two more.
“We've hit 21 home runs as a team this year,” said Ross. “We didn't have one today, but we can hit the ball.”
The early scoring was more than enough support for senior left-hander Alyssa Meta. After she surrendered a single to Nikki Anderson and a walk to Sadie Buchser in the top of the first inning, Meta retired eight batters in a row. She ended the game with seven strikeouts and one free pass.
“The last time she pitched was against Apollo-Ridge (a 12-6 win May 2),” Ross said of Meta. “I just wanted her to get some good work in today and everything seemed to be working well for her. It's a lot easier for a pitcher to throw her stuff in warm weather.”
“I have five pitches — screwball, curveball, changeup, drop and fastball — and I was able to throw all of them today,” said Meta. “There's not as much pressure to pitch when you have an 8-0 lead.”
Meta used her bat to end the game with a single in the bottom of the fifth that scored Sample with Freeport's 10th run, ending the action via the mercy rule.
The Yellowjackets placed third in Section 3-AA behind defending WPIAL champ Deer Lakes and Burrell.
“I expect us to get a No. 10 or 11 seed,” said Ross, “which means we could draw a section champ in the first round. There's also some really good second-place teams out there.”
Riverview 000 00x x — 0 2 4
Freeport 800 11x x — 10 12 0
W: Alyssa Meta 5 IP (7K, 1BB). L: Hannah Larkin 4+ IP (3K, 5BB).
Riverview (11-7): Nikki Anderson 1B, Sadie Buchser 1B
Freeport (11-6): Ashley Sample 3-1B 3R 2RBI, Alyssa Meta 3-1B RBI, Emily Lindsey 2B RBI, Taylor Massart 2-1B R, Alexis Roenigk 1B 2R, Jessica Kelley RBI, Karlie Hill 2B R, Alyssa Ravotti R RBI, Angela Hewitt 1B R RBI, Natalie Dell R
Next: WPIAL Class AA playoffs, TBD
