By: Ryan Tattersall
Another showing of dominance was put on full display on Tuesday, May 16, as the Wallenpaupack Lady Bucks crushed the Scranton Lady Knights 12-1. Paupack came into this game after suffering one of the toughest losses of their season to Valley View three – two on Monday, May 15. Paupack’s objective was to rebound from their tough loss. Scranton was the team to do it against. Paupack had beaten them 8-0 earlier in the season. The best play of the game was a two-run home run from Josie Leighton. So looked to sweep them in this game. When the game started Clara Babyak and the Lady Buck defense stuffed Scranton on a quick three and out. Then the Paupack offense erupted in the first. Allie Sterner led off with a walk, making it her fourth game in a row to start the game on first base. She was then driven home on a single from Emily Sterner. The bases were quickly loaded on a single from Gabby Hieber and a walk for Josie Leighton. Kailyn Kielbasa walked and Emily Sterner scored while the bases were still loaded. Hieber and Leighton were driven in off a single right up the middle from Dakota Hubbard. The Scranton suffering in the first continued as Wren Fredrick drove in Kielbasa and Hubbard with a line-drive single.
In the top second, Scranton hit everything to Gabby Hieber at first for another easy three and out. She then proceeded with a long triple, and then scored via a sacrifice fly from Josie Leighton.
The third inning was of the same, with two strikeouts from Clara Babyak and a nice ground-out play from Josie Leighton. Unfortunately, the shutout was broken in the fourth, as Scranton finally got a run on the board. But even with a little momentum for the Lady Knights, the Lady Bucks would continue to turn their shining armor into smoldering tinfoil. Hunter Myers walked, then Josie Leighton would continue to punish the Lady Knights with her fifth home run of the season, and the second against Scranton. The Lady Bucks were playing so well that even their reserve hitters were scoring runs. 12 runs were scored for Wallenpaupack. Scranton was forced to waive the white flag in the fifth as the game ended in a mercy rule.
There were some impressive performances in the game for the Lady Bucks. Clara Babyak pitched a great game with five innings pitched, four strikeouts, one run, and two hits. Gabby Hieber had a great game at the plate as usual, getting two hits and scoring three runs. Josie Leighton as well was incredible. She was a beast at the plate getting a two-run homerun, a hit, a walk, and three RBI. Overall, it was a great performance by literally everyone against Scranton. Coach Babyak even expressed his thoughts on the game. “I think we all did well, everybody contributed. We’re in a good spot to be in, right before the playoffs. We’ve got one good game left against Scranton Prep. If we play the way we’ve been playing. We’re going to have some success.” It’s senior night in their last home game of the season against Scranton Prep on Wednesday, May 17, at 4:30.
