Softball fans hoping to see a classic pitcher’s duel struck gold on this beautiful Friday afternoon at Council Rock South.
South hurler Lexi Waring and fellow right-hander Sienna Lawson of Central Bucks West (3-4, 5-5) kept frustrating opposing hitters until CR South (5-2, 8-2) finally broke through with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning and emerged with a 1-0 win.
Both pitchers fashioned gems in this April 21 Suburban One League cross-divisional game between CR South of the SOL Patriot and Colonial Division member CB West. Waring tossed the complete-game shutout while striking out 14 and surrendering only three hits. Lawson also went the distance while striking out eight and giving up only four hits and the one unearned run.
Council Rock South’s Kaylie Walters started off the bottom of the sixth inning with a single up the middle. She stole second, went to third on a passed ball and dashed home on a squeeze bunt by Avery Tumolo.
Ameerah Wheet of CR South ended the game in dramatic fashion with a defensive gem in the top of the seventh inning. With a runner on third base and two outs, Wheet made a great running catch in center field on a deep rocket shot off the bat of CB West’s Chloe Dryden.
“Lexi was absolutely brilliant today,” CR South head coach Dan Schram said. “I’m very proud of the kids. They came together as a team, and we had leaders across the field. Central Bucks West earlier in the week went 13 innings with CR North and that pitcher (Lawson) struck out 18 batters. So, she is a very good pitcher and they are a very good team.”
Central Bucks West put runners in scoring position in three different innings, including second and third base with one out in the third. But each time Waring worked out of trouble, often with strikeouts.
“My teammates picked me up, they had my back,” she said. “On that last pitch, I hung one over the plate but Ameerah made a great play.”
Tumolo also flashed some impressive leather for CR South at third base, making a diving catch on a screaming low line drive in the sixth inning.
Dryden, Molly Gibson (double) and Taylor Hooven had the hits for CB West while Wheet, Walters, Tumolo and Shannon Williams accounted for CR South’s four hits, all singles.
“Sienna pitched great,” CB West head coach Ali Coleman said. “She was hitting her spots and did what she had to do, and our defense backed her up. It was great softball today from both teams. We just have to make adjustments earlier and score those runs when we have runners on.”
Lawson said her rising curve was working especially well on this day.
“Last week, our defense was really rough but I feel like today, the defense picked it up,” she noted. “It does hurt when we leave people on base. We have to work on that.”
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