Going all out

Devils top Panthers for District 10 title

By Lisa Renwick

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

HARBORCREEK TOWNSHIP — The Cambridge Springs softball team carries a flag with it wherever it goes. Written on the flag are the words, “All Out” — a phrase Angie Mumford has used time and time again in her years as the Lady Blue Devils’ head coach.

On Monday afternoon, the Devils went all out.

Using another outstanding pitching performance by Hailee Rodgers, an aggressive approach at the plate and some flashy defense, Cambridge Springs captured the District 10 Class 1A softball championship with a 6-2 win over intradistrict rival Saegertown at Penn State Behrend.

The Blue Devils improved to 16-2 on the year and advance to the first round of the PIAA Class 1A playoffs set for June 7 at a site and time to be determined. Cambridge Springs will face District 9 runner-up Clarion Limestone, who lost to DuBois Central Catholic 12-2 in five innings in the District 9 title game on Monday.

Saegertown ends its season at 12-5.

In the two previous meetings between Saegertown and Cambridge Springs, just one run wound up being the difference. The Blue Devils won the first meeting of the Region 2 series 1-0 and the second one 3-2. Through four innings, the championship game looked like it might follow suit.

Both Saegertown and Cambridge Springs had scoring opportunities early, but it wasn’t until the third inning that either team was able to cash in. The Devils put that run on the board with two outs in the bottom of the third when Kylee Miller doubled home Paige Verbanac.

“The whole time we were just kind of calm, cool and collective,” Verbanac said. “We kept hitting the ball and we weren’t going into any gaps. So we just kept working hard to find some gaps. And once we started scoring in the fourth inning we didn’t stop; we didn’t let up. That’s how we played all season. We never gave up on each other. We always worked as a team.”

It was Verbanac who helped set up an exciting fifth inning for the Blue Devils. The senior covered quite a bit of ground to rob Saegertown’s Brittany Houck of an extra-base hit just in front of the 225-foot sign in center field. Had the hit dropped in, the tying run would have been at at least second base with just one out.

The Panthers did draw a walk in the next at-bat, but Rodgers finished the inning with her seventh strikeout of the game.

The Devils wound up with two quick outs in the bottom part of the inning. It all changed there. Designated player Maddie Dragosavac got the rally going for Cambridge with a single between short stop and second base. Verbanac and Miller then drew back-to-back walks to load the bases.

Aly Acosta-Reyes then hit into an error that allowed Emily Boylan, running for Dragosavac, to score. Taylor Smith followed with a bases loaded walk, scoring Verbanac. The Devils now led 3-0. That lead doubled when Chloe Schultz cleared the bases with a triple over the head of the Panthers’ left fielder, putting Cambridge Springs up 6-0.

Still, the Devils couldn’t rest comfortably even with Rodgers hurling strikes and her defense flashing leather.

Houck showed why in the sixth inning when she cleared the fence in right field for a two-run home run with one out. Abby Kirdahy kept the rally going with an infield hit. But Rodgers got strikeouts No. 8 and 9 to end the inning.

“Houck is a game-changer,” Mumford said. “Did you see that diving play? She played an amazing game and props to her.”

Houck’s diving play on the second base side was the third out of sixth inning, leaving the Devils with a runner at third base and keeping the deficit at just four for the Panthers going into their final three outs.

Saegertown did get itself a runner in the seventh inning after an error. But the base runner wandered too far off first base and was tagged out to end the game.

“We have girls who don’t want to lose,” Mumford said. “We hustle, hustle, hustle, hustle. It’s all out all the time. We preach that all year long and that’s what has gotten us where we are.”

Added Rodgers, ““We’ve always preached this one saying, ‘Winners win and to win each inning,’” Rodgers said. “Just putting in those runs and winning every inning helped the defense relax and make plays that came up clutch.”

Rodgers allowed one earned run on five hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts.

The Panthers’ Obenrader finished out an remarkable freshman season, allowing just one earned run off six hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

In addition to Obenrader, the Panthers are expected to return all but one member of their starting lineup next season.

“Jenn (Krider) and Brittany (Zajac) have done a great job coming in as new coaches,” Mumford said. “I have extreme respect for them over there.”

“I think a lot of people doubted us,” Krider said. “We never did. I think our staff knew if we could get these girls on the same page and play together as a team and work hard that they could definitely be (in the final) and, in fact, probably farther. Cambridge Springs is a great team and they came out ready to play.

“We always just seem to have one inning where things get away from us and mentally we have a lapse. But I think as we move on and mature as a team that inning is going to be a thing of the past.”

Rivals fight for softball 1A District 10 title

By Lisa Renwick

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

Cambridge Springs and Saegertown are natural rivals.

The schools are located less than 10 miles from each other and some of the roads that lead to those schools have Saegertown students on one side and Cambridge Springs students on the other. Needless to say, when the Panthers and Blue Devils meet on the field or in the gym for athletic competition there is generally a lot of excitement.

Today will be no exception.

The Panthers and Devils are set to square off for the District 10 Class 1A softball championship at 10 a.m. at Penn State Behrend. The winner advances to the first round of the PIAA playoffs on June 7 against the District 9 runner-up.

Cambridge Springs and Saegertown played each other twice in the span of six days during the regular season with the Blue Devils coming out on top in both games. But those wins were by a total of just two runs.

On May 14, Cambridge sophomore pitcher Hailee Rodgers and Saegertown freshman pitcher Mikaila Obenrader combined to allow just three total hits with 24 strikeouts.

The Devils scored the lone run of the game in the sixth inning. Aly Acosta-Reyes drew a walk and stole second and third base before coming across to score on a sacrifice fly by Taylor Smith.

Acosta-Reyes was also a big part of the Devils’ win over the Panthers on May 20.

Cambridge Springs had a 2-0 lead, but Saegertown scored a pair in the sixth to tie the game. The Devils plated the winner in the eighth inning when Rodgers singled home Acosta-Reyes for a 3-2 score.

Rodgers and Obenrader were, again, stellar for their respective teams inside the circle with 11 total hits allowed and just two earned runs.

Saegertown earned a third meeting against the Blue Devils with a 13-5 win over West Middlesex in Wednesday’s semifinals.

West Middlesex took advantage of some uncharacteristic control issues by Obenrader and a couple of fielding errors to post five funs in the first and take a 5-3 lead.

But the Panthers scored 10 unanswered to advance. Cambridge Springs needed three extra outs to get past rival Cochranton in the semifinals. The Blue Devils beat the Cardinals 6-3 in eight innings. Chloe Schultz blasted a solo home run to score the game-winning run.

Obenrader enters the title game with the Panthers’ hottest bat. She is hitting .468 on the year with 21 RBIs. Brittany Houck (.353), Kylie Thompson (.350), Alyssa Arblaster (.311) and Abby Kirdahy (.293) round out the Panthers’ top five hitters.

On the mound, Obenrader has a 0.79 ERA.

The Blue Devils are led at the plate by Paige Verbanac with a .482 hitting percentage. Taylor Smith (.413), Kylee Miller (.413), Chloe Schultz (.409) and Rodgers (.396) have been hot this season as well.

Cambridge Springs is in search of its eighth District 10 title. The Blue Devils’ last title came in 2018 in Class 1A. Saegertown has four D-10 softball crowns with three of those titles coming in Class 1A in a span of five seasons (2012 to 2016).

Panthers punch ticket to district championship

By Lisa Renwick

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

Going into Wednesday’s District 10 Class 1A semifinals, Saegertown freshman Mikaila Obenrader had allowed just 23 walks. That’s 1.5 walks per contest.

In the first inning against West Middlesex, the ace more than doubled that average, walking four to allow the Big Reds to take a 5-3 advantage.

First-year Saegertown coach Jenn Krider had every bit of confidence in her young pitcher, though, and just as much confidence in her offense. Both prevailed.

Saegertown pounded out 12 hits, including four for extra bases as it cruised to a 13-5 win over the Big Reds at Allegheny College.

The Panthers improved to 12-4 overall and advance to face Cambridge Springs for the District 10 Class 1A title on Monday at Penn State Behrend at a time to be announced. West Middlesex ends its season at 6-13.

“I know we didn’t come out with our best defensive attempt, but I know we have a good defense,” Saegertown coach Jenn Krider said. “(Obenrader) has some teammates behind her that she knows is going to make big plays for her. So letting her go through it and let her defense help behind her while she made an adjustment … I wasn’t worried.”

Saegertown jumped on top early. Alyssa Arblaster beat out an infield hit. She scored on a single by Obenrader. Rhiannon Paris also singled and scored on a bases loaded walk by Abigail Kirdahy. Obenrader’s courtesy runner Ava Jones scored on a sacrifice fly by Katherine Diesing to cap the scoring and give the Panthers a 3-0 lead. It didn’t last.

Obenrader walked three of the first four batters she faced. An error plated two of those runs. Emily Schlegel plated two more on a triple to the fence in right-center. Schlegel also scored on the play when the throw in from the outfield got away to put the Big Reds up 5-3.

Those were the last runs the Big Reds scored off Obenrader. Saegertown, meanwhile, went on a bit of a frenzy. The Panthers scored four in the second inning to take the lead. The Big Reds had three errors in the inning. Arblaster had an RBI single and eventually scored on an error. Obenrader roped a run-scoring triple and Brittany Houck came through with a sac fly in the inning.

In the third inning, Kylie Stafford had a two-run single and Paris smacked an RBI double. Arblaster and Mook had RBIs in the fourth and Kirdahy drove in another in the fifth to end the scoring for Saegertown. “As a team, we do a really good job of picking each other up,” Krider said. “And that’s good to see, because sometimes that can be a tough job for everyone.”

After walking four in the first inning, Obenrader ended the game with seven walks. She allowed just two base hits and struck out 14.

“I told her she needed to settle in,” Krider said regarding her conversation with Obenrader in the first inning. “I think with the change in schedule, we got a little bit off guard. We weren’t on our toes just because everything had been flopped around so much. We sat around for an hour and 45 minutes just trying to wait out a rain delay.

“I think that we weren’t mentally prepared to play. But I said, ‘Settle in, work, make an adjustment, throw strikes and let your defense play behind you.’ And she did.”

Obenrader, who was intentionally walked twice, finished the game 3-for-3 at the plate. Arblaster, Paris and Mook had two hits each.

Panthers roll KC in playoff opener

By Lisa Renwick

Saegertown has had quite a bit of success in the District 10 softball playoffs over the last several years. But only a few of this year’s starters had any playoff experience entering Monday’s Class 1A quarterfinal game against Kennedy Catholic.

The result, however, was no different.

Saegertown freshman ace Mikaila Obenrader struck out seven and was a walk away from a perfect game as the Panthers cruised to a 15-0 three-inning win over the Golden Eagles at Allegheny College.

The Panthers, who entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed, are now 11-4 overall and advance to face No. 2 seed West Middlesex (6-12) in the semifinals on Wednesday at a site and time to be determined. Kennedy Catholic ends its season at 3-15.

Saegertown battled Cambridge Springs through the regular season, fighting for a chance at the No. 1 seed in Class 1A. But first-year Saegertown coach Jenn Krider feels her team might have lucked out with the No. 3 seed and an opportunity to work out some kinks in the opening round.

“Our seeding actually worked to our benefit,” Krider said. “It seems like maybe we have some time now to make the adjustments we didn’t before and clean up some of the little things we were missing. This kind of gives us another opportunity.”

Saegertown wasted no time getting on the scoreboard against the Golden Eagles. The Panthers sent seven batters to the plate and scored four runs before the first out was recorded in the first inning. Saegertown finished the inning with an 12-0 lead.

Obenrader was 2-for-2 in the inning and drove in four runs.

Saegertown plated two more runs in the second inning with the help of a pair of errors. Brittany Houck’s grounder got under the glove of Kennedy’s third baseman and the throw back into the infield sailed high allowing Kylie Stafford and Rhiannon Paris to score.

The Panthers got the game-ending run off another error in the third after singles by Katherine Diesing and Kylie Thompson.

“I think this is a good example of where mental toughness comes in,” Krider said. “It’s hard to stay disciplined. But we did that today. I was very pleased with their discipline at the plate.”

Obenrader had a perfect game through 2 1/3 innings before issuing a walk. She struck out the final two batters in the inning.

Spa tops Panthers in 8

CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS — Hailee Rodgers’ single in the eighth inning allowed Aly Acosta-Reyes to score and gave Cambridge Springs a 3-2 win over Saegertown in extra innings.

Cambridge held a 2-0 lead, but Saegertown scored twice in the sixth inning to tie the game. Neither team could muster a run in the seventh and sent the game to extra innings. Rodgers and the Spa defense held off the Panthers in the top of the eighth to give them a chance to win.

On the mound, Rodgers allowed eight hits and struck out six batters. On the other side, Mikaila Obenrader struck out five batters and allowed five hits.

At bat, Kenzie Miller had a double for Spa.

Miller and Rodgers each had an RBI.

Saegertown’s Brittany Houck drilled a home run for the Panthers that brought Rhiannon Paris in to score.

Cambridge swept Saegertown this season and is now 14-2 overall and 12-2 in Region 2. Saegertown is 10-4 overall and in region play.

SAEGERTOWN (2)

(AB-R-H-BI) Arblaster 4-0-2-0, Stafford 3-0-0-0, Paris 4-11-0, Obenrader 3-0-1-0, Houck 2-1-1-2, Diesing 2-0-0-0, Kirdahy 4-0-2-0, Thompson 4-0-1-0, Smith 0-0-0-0, Jones 0-0-0-0, Nicholson 0-0-0-0. Totals 26-2-8-2. 

CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS (3)

(AB-R-H-BI) Verbanac 3-0-0-0, Miller 3-0-1-1, Acosta-Reyes 4-1-0-0, Smith 1-1-0-0, Rodgers 3-0-1-1, Findlay 2-0-1-0, Schultz 3-0-1-1. Lewis 2-0-0-0, Dragosavac 3-01-0, Boylan 0-0-0-0, Gill 1-1-0-0. Totals 25-3-5-3. 

Saegertown 000 002 00 — 2 8 2 

Cambridge Springs 001 100 01 — 3 5 1 

BATTING 

2B: CS — Miller.

HR: S — Houck.

PITCHING (IP-H-R-ER-BB-SO) S — Obenrader L 8-5-3-0-2-5; CS — Rodgers W 8-8-2-2-1-6. 

Records: Saegertown 10-4; Cambridge Springs 14-2.

Bears clinch sole possession of Region 2 title

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

UNION CITY — Union City’s bats were held pretty well in check for five innings. In the sixth inning, they erupted. The Bears scored eight runs on six hits in the sixth, including a three-run home run by Lucy Higley, on its way to an 8-3 win over Saegertown on Tuesday in Region 2 softball action.

With the win, the Bears improved to 16-0 overall and 13-0 in region and clinch sole possession of the Region 2 championship.

Higley finished the day with two hits. Emylee Zielinski also had two hits for the Bears. Abby Tingley went the distance in the circle, allowing just two hits with one walk and 14 strikeouts. She did surrender three runs in the seventh inning — only one of which was earned.

Mikaila Obenrader drove in two runs for Saegertown. She also struck out nine on the mound.

SAEGERTOWN (3)

(AB-R-H-RBI) Paris 3-0-0-0, Stafford 3-1-00, Arblaster 2-1-0-0, Obenrader 3-1-1-2, Diesing 3-0-0-0, Houck 3-0-1-0, Kirdahy 3-00-0, Thompson 3-0-0-0, Mook 2-0-0-0. Totals 25-3-2-2.

UNION CITY (8) (AB-R-H-RBI) E. Zielinski 4-1-2-1, Tingley 3-00-0, E. Reynolds 2-1-0-0, Gilbert 3-0-1-1, C. Zielinski 3-1-1-1, Higley 3-1-2-3, Brozell 2-0-00, C. Reynolds 3-1-1-0, Gates-Bowersox 3-11-1, Hopson 0-1-0-0, Magee 0-1-0-0. Totals 26-8-8-7.

Saegertown 000 000 3 — 3 2 1 

Union City 000 008 x — 8 8 3 

BATTING 2B: S — Obenrader; UC — E. Zielinski, C. Zielinski.

HR: UC — Higley.

PITCHING

(IP-H-R-ER-BB-SO) S — Obenrader LP 6-8-87-2-9; UC — Tingley WP 7-2-3-1-1-14.

Records: Saegertown 10-3, 10-3 Region 2; Union City 16-0, 13-0 Region 2.

Panthers blank RG

SAEGERTOWN — Saegertown earned a 10-0 shutout win over Rocky Grove on Monday in Region 2 softball action.

Kylie Stafford paced the Panthers with three hits, including a double. Maggie Triola also had two hits for Saegertown, while Abigail Kirdahy drove in two runs and scored a pair of runs.

Mikaila Obenrader struck out 14 and allowed just two hits on the mound.

ROCKY GROVE (0)

(AB-R-H-RBI) Jacoby 3-0-1-0, Rice 3-0-0-0, Winslow 2-0-1-0, Rhoads 2-0-0-0, Montgomery 2-0-0-0, Cresswell 2-0-0-0, Chambers 2-0-0-0, Knapp 2-0-0-0, Toland 2-0-0-0, Cable 0-0-0-0.

Totals 20-0-2-0.

SAEGERTOWN (10) (AB-R-H-RBI) Paris 3-1-1-1, Stafford 4-1-3-0, Arblaster 4-1-0-0, Obenrader 4-0-1-0, Kirdahy 4-2-1-2, Thompson 4-0-1-1, Smith 1-1-0-0, Triola 4-1-2-1, Mook 3-1-1-1, Jones 0-0-0-0.

Totals 31-10-10-6.

Rocky Grove 000 000 — 0 2 Saegertown 215 002 — 10 10 BATTING

2B: S — Stafford.

PITCHING

(IP-H-R-ER-BB-SO) RG — Winslow 3 1/36-8-2-3-3, Cresswell 1 2/3-4-2-2-1-0; S — Obenrader WP 6-2-0-0-0-14.

Blue Devils win pitcher’s duel 1-0

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

SAEGERTOWN — Cambridge Springs won a pitchers duel 1-0 at Betram Field against Saegertown on Friday in Region 2 softball.

Blue Devil pitcher Hailee Rodgers and Panther pitcher Mikaila Obenrader combined for 24 strikeouts and three hits allowed over seven innings.

Cambridge scored the only run of the game when Aly Acosta-Reyes scored in the sixth inning. She was walked before stealing second and third base. A Taylor Smith sacrifice fly brought her in to score.

Smith also had Spa’s lone hit of the day.

Saegertown’s Rhiannon Paris and Obenrader each had a hit in the loss.

Cambridge’s win gives them a 8-2 overall record. They are now 6-2 in the region.

Saegertown dropped to 9-2 overall and in region play.

CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS (1)

(AB-R-H-BI) Verbanac 4-0-0-0, Miller 3-0-0-0, Reyes 2-1-0-0, Smith 2-0-1-1, Rodgers 3-0-00, Findlay, 2-0-0-0, Lewis 3-0-0-0, Gill 3-0-00, Dragosavac 2-0-0-0, Boylan 0-0-0-0. Totals 25-1-1-1. 

SAEGERTOWN (0) (AB-R-H-BI) Paris 3-0-1-0, Stafford 3-0-0-0, Arblaster 3-0-0-0, Obenrader 1-0-1-0, Jones 0-00-0, Diesing 2-0-0-0, Smith 2-0-0-0, Kirdahy 2-00-0, Triola 2-0-0-0, Mook 1-0-0-0, Thompson 1-0-0-0. Totals 21-0-2-0. Cambridge Springs 000 001 0 — 1 1 Saegertown 000 000 0 — 0 2 BATTING 2B: S — Obenrader.

PITCHING

(IP-H-R-ER-BB-SO) CS — Rodgers W 7-2-0-0-314; S — Obenrader L 7-1-1-1-3-10. Records: Cambridge Springs 8-2; Saegertown 9-2.

Panthers upend Ike

SAEGERTOWN — Mikaila Obenrader struck out 16 to lead Saegertown to a 6-0 win over Eisenhower on Thursday in Region 2 softball action.

Alyssa Arblaster and Abby Kirdahy had two hits each to lead the Panthers on offense. Rhiannon Paris tripled.

Obenrader allowed just three hits.

Softball Panthers upend Wood

GUYS MILLS — Saegertown scattered seven runs across seven innings to hold up another stellar effort by Mikaila Obenrader on the mound en route to a 7-0 win over Maplewood in Region 2 softball action on Wednesday.

Obenrader gave up three hits — two to Kaysea Thomas — while striking out 17. She also went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double. Rhiannon Paris was 3-for-5 with three runs and a triple.

SAEGERTOWN

(AB-R-H) Paris 5-3-3, Stafford 5-1-1, Arblaster 3-0-0, Obenrader 4-0-2, Jones 0-1-0, Diesing 4-0-1, Nicholson 0-0-0, 

Smith 1-1-0, Kirdahy 3-1-1, Triola 4-0-1, Mook 4-0-1.

Totals 33-7-10. 

MAPLEWOOD (AB-R-H) Woge 2-0-1, Beuchat 3-0-0, Crawford 3-0-0, Thomas 2-0-2, Robinson 3-0-0, Crawford 3-0-0, Banik 3-0-0, Hasbrouck 2-0-0, Best 3-0-0. Totals 24-0-3.

Saegertown 101 121 1 — 7 10 

Maplewood 000 000 0 — 0 3

BATTING

2B: S — Obenrader.

3B: S — Paris.

PITCHING (IP-H-R-ER-BB-SO) S — Obenrader WP 7-3-0-0-2-17; MW — Woge LP 5-7-6-2-6-1, Whitehair 2-3-1-1-1-3.

Panthers take twinbill vs. Eagles

SAEGERTOWN — Saegertown swept a Region 2 softball doubleheader against Youngsville on Tuesday.

The Panthers won the first game 11-1 and the second game 21-0.

Mikaila Obenrader struck out nine in three innings of work and also contributed three hits in the opener for Saegertown.

In Game 2, Obenrader added three more hit. In the circle, the freshman allowed one hit and walked

one, while striking out eight in three innings.

Rhiannon Paris had a pair of doubles in the nightcap. Abby Kirdahy homered.

Twice as nice

Obenrader leads Panthers to second shutout vs. Cards

By Alex Topor

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

SAEGERTOWN — Saegertown freshman Mikaila Obenrader has been on a tear this month.

In Saturday’s game against Cochranton, she pitched a no-hitter and struck out 16 batters in a 4-0 win. She followed that performance by allowing three hits and zero runs against the Cardinals on Thursday at Bertram Park.

Obenrader has hurled a total of 29 strikeouts and allowed zero runs in her last two games on the mound.

“I was nervous, but pretty confident coming into the game,” Obenrader said. “I think we can keep this up. Our team played really well today.”

Obenrader’s arm and the PantherdefenseledSaegertown to a 1-0 win against Cochranton and sole possession of second place in Region 2.

“We definitely use her to our advantage. It’s great having someone that is such a strong leader at such a young age,” Saegertown head coach Jenn Krider said. “She makes adjustments well, keeps her head on her shoulders and doesn’t get shaken easily. It’s really nice to have such a consistent, young, strong pitcher.”

Saegertown kept Cochranton from scoring any runs, but Cardinal pitcher Taytum Jackson had a stellar performance as well. Jackson only allowed four hits all game and struck out five batters. She forced nine ground outs and four fly outs to keep the Panthers off the bases for most of the game.

“We played great defense today and Taytum played great only giving up one run. You can’t ask anymore from your pitcher,” Cochranton head coach Mitch Shreve said. “We had a lot of big defensive plays when we needed them, but we need to get our bats hot again.”

The Cardinal defense allowed one run on the day.

In the bottom of the fifth, Saegertown’s Abigail Kirdahy got on base as a result of Cochranton’s only error on the day. After reaching second base on a wild pitch, she was brought home by Kylie Thompson’s single to right field.

Kirdahy’s run would be all Saegertown needed to pull off the win.

“It was hard to squeeze hits in because Cochranton came ready to play today,” Krider said. “We were hitting, it was just hard to find a hole out there.”

Following the run, Cochranton mustered just one hit over the final two innings.

“She (Obenrader) did a great job against us on Saturday keeping us off balance. I thought we responded better today with staying on balance, but she does a great job of hitting her spots,” Shreve said. “She threw a lot of great pitches that we stared at for the third strike and you can’t do that if you want to win a ball game.”

Cochranton’s three hits on the day came from Jaylin Mc-Gill, Lexie Moore and Chloe Lippert. McGill’s hit was a double.

The Cardinal offense has fallen as of late. Earlier in the season, the team won games with

high run totals (17, 16, 12, 12). Over the past three games, Cochranton has a total of four runs.

“We’ve always had great confidence in our bats and our ability to put runs on the scoreboard. We just need to find those bats again like we had at the beginning of the season,” Shreve said. “I think the girls played amazing today, especially for what we dealt with this week and last week.”

Shreve is referring to a COVID shutdown that forced the team off the field since Saturday. Saegertown dealt with a shutdown of its own earlier in the season and has only played six games as a result.

As playoffs near, the Panthers’ young squad will need more time on the field to peak in the postseason.

“I think they need to continue to build on their chemistry. The mental game is where we need to continue to stay tough and maintain our focus, especially coming into a stretch with probably no practices,” Krider said. “I think physically we have it. We can field ground balls, we can catch fly balls, we just need to make sure we are mentally prepared for every game.”

The win moves Saegertown to 5-1 overall and in the region. Cochranton dropped to 7-6 overall and 4-5 in region play.

Obenrader’s no-hitter lifts Panthers over Cardinals

COCHRANTON — Mikaila Obenrader pitched a no-hitter and was one walk away from a perfect game to lead Saegertown to a 4-0 win against Cochranton in Region 2 softball on Saturday.

Obenrader struck out 16 batters over seven innings. She also went 1-3 at the plate and drove in a run.

The score was 0-0 entering the fifth inning, but the Panthers scored twice in the inning to break the stalemate. They added two more runs over the final two innings in the win.

Rhiannon Paris and Kylie Stafford each hit 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.

For Cochranton, Jaylin McGill was the only batter to get on base. Taytum Jackson pitched all seven innings, striking out 10 batters and allowing ten hits. The win improved Saegertown to 4-1 and the loss dropped Cochranton to 7-5.

SAEGERTOWN (4)

(AB-R-H-BI) Paris 4-1-2-1, Stafford 4-1-2-1, Arblaster 4-0-1-0, Obenrader 3-0-1-1, Diesing 4-0-2-0, Smith 3-0-0-0, Kirdahy 2-1-1-0, Triola 2-00-0, Thompson 1-0-1-1, Mook 3-0-0-0, Nicholson 0-0-0-0, Mangold 0-1-0-0. Totals 30-4-10-4.

COCHRANTON (0)

(AB-R-H-BI) Jackson 3-0-0-0, Lippert 3-0-0-0, Moore 3-0-0-0, McGill 2-0-0-0, Freyermuth 2-0-00, Heim 2-0-0-0, Vittorio 2-0-0-0, Richter 2-0-0-0, Rose 2-0-0-0. Totals 21-0-0-0.

Saegertown 000 021 1 —4 10 0 Cochranton 000 000 0 —0 0 0 BATTING 2B: S — Diesing.

3B: S — Paris.

PITCHING

(IP-H-R-ER-BB-SO) S — Obenrader W 7-0-0-0-116; C — Jackson L 7-10-4-3-1-10.

Records: Saegertown 4-1; Cochranton 7-5.

Softball UC tops Panthers

SAEGERTOWN — Emylee Zielinski hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning to lead Union City to a 5-2 win over Saegertown on Saturday in Region 2 softball action.

The Bears and Panthers went into the seventh inning tied at 2-2. Sophia Messenger reached on an error to start the frame for the Bears. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice by Kam Gates-Bowersox. Zielinski closed the door with a two-run shot to right-center.

Saegertown did get a leadoff double by Rhia Paris in the bottom half of the inning. She advanced to third on a groundout, but was left stranded.

Eliza Reynolds and Messenger had two hits each for the Bears. Abby Tingley struck out 13 in the win.

Kat Diesing led Saegertown with two hits.

The Bears are now alone atop the Region 2 standings at 7-0 overall and 6-0 in region play. Saegertown is 4-1 overall and 3-1 in Region 2.

UNION CITY (5) (AB-R-H-RBI) E. Zielinski 4-2-1-2, Brozell 4-00-0, E. Reynolds 4-0-2-1, Gilbert 4-0-1-0, C. Zielinski 3-0-1-0, Higley 2-0-0-0, Messenger 3-0-2-0, Magee 2-0-0-0, Gates-Bowersox 3-11-2, Tingley 0-2-0-0. Totals 29-5-8-5.

SAEGERTOWN (2)

(AB-R-H-RBI) Kirdahy 4-0-0-0, Paris 3-0-1-0, Arblaster 4-1-1-0, Houck 2-1-1-0, Obenrader 4-0-1-1, Stafford 3-0-1-1, Smith 2-0-0-0, Diesing 3-0-2-0, Mook 2-0-0-0. Thompson 1-00-0. Totals 28-2-7-2.

Union City 100 010 3 — 5 8 0 Saegertown 002 000 0 — 2 7 2 BATTING 2B: UC — E. Reynolds; S — Paris.

3B: UC — Gates-Bowersox.

HR: UC — Emylee Zielinski.

PITCHING (IP-H-R-ER-BB-SO) UC — Tingley WP 7-7-22-4-13; S — Obenrader LP 7-8-5-3-1-6.

Strategy fails for Maplewood as Panthers cruise to win Region 2 victory

• By Alex Topor Meadville Tribune   

SAEGERTOWN — Saegertown was in control throughout the duration of a 11-1 victory over Maplewood on Thursday. And it started with freshman pitcher Mikaila Obenrader and Brittany Houck’s reputation at the plate.

After walking the first batter, Obenrader struck on the next two and got a fly out. That gave the Houck-led Panther offense a chance to pounce first. And they did just that.

Saegertown began the bottom of the first inning with a strikeout, but two singles and an error gave the Panthers runners on second and third with Brittany Houck at the plate. Maplewood chose to walk Houck and load the bases.

“Brittany Houck is a home run hitter. We know her and I’d rather walk a couple runs in then have her hit four runs in so we can stay alive longer and play,” Maplewood head coach Brad Crawford said. “We just didn’t wanna take the chance.”

With the bases loaded, Maplewood’s Izzy Eimer walked two of the next three batters, giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead. 

In the second inning, Obenrader took care of business again by retiring the first three batters. 

The second inning looked to be a repeat of the first. After walking a batter and allowing a single, Houck was walked to load the bases once again.

“I did not expect it (intentional walking Houck), but I do understand their choice,” Saegertown head coach Jennifer Krider said. “She’s a great leader, a great hitter and a tough out.”

Sydnie Smith was walked in her at bat, bringing a run home and keeping the bases loaded. Kylie Stafford hit a single to shallow center, which brought Katherine Diesing and Houck in to score. Smith was narrowly thrown out at third base to end the inning.

Maplewood recorded its first hit of the game in the third when Eve Beuchat drilled a ball to the fence in deep center field for a double. Beuchat was left on the second when Madison Crawford struck out for the final out. 

With a 5-0 lead, the Panthers’ bats were even hotter in the third inning. Obenrader started the inning by hitting a low line drive to deep center field for a double. After back-to-back singles, Abigail Kirdahy hit a double to bring two runs home and give her squad runners on second and third with zero outs.

A sacrifice bunt from Rhiannon Paris brought another score in for Saegertown, still with no outs. After a Kacie Mook single, Houck was yet again intentionally walked to load the bases. A walk brought in another runner before an error at the plate allowed two more runners to come home, giving the Panthers an 11-0 lead. 

“When we play as a team and come prepared we tend to play our best,” Krider said. “I think we have unlimited potential and whenever we develop that chemistry on the field and come with momentum it’s good for us.”

In the Tigers’ at bat, Eimer led off the series with a bomb to deep center field that hit the fence for a double. Madelyn Woge followed with a double of her own, which allowed Eimer to score and get the Tigers on the scoreboard. A fly out and two strikeouts would end the inning for Maplewood. 

Despite making contact several times, Maplewood batters were unable to consistently get on base and runners were left stranded on third base twice in the game.

“We need to get more live pitching in. It will help the pitchers and the batters,” Crawford said. “We’ve been trying to fit it in but we haven’t had a lot of time to do it.”

After Eimer gave the Tigers a run, she returned to the mound and gave her team three outs in four batters.

Facing a 11-1 deficit in the top of the fifth, Maplewood needed to score or they would fall victim to the 10-run mercy rule. The Tigers did not score and the game was over after five innings.

“We have to focus and stop over-thinking things. We need to focus in between pitches. Just keep growing,” Crawford said. “They are there, the defense is there but we need to get the ball out there. We have injured pitchers, young pitchers, inexperienced pitchers and its all killing us but we’ll keep working.”

Eimer went 1-for-2 and added a run and an RBI in the game. She also gave up eight hits and 11 runs on the mound with four strikeouts. 

On the mound for Saegertown, Obenrader struck out nine batters and allowed one run on three hits. At the plate, she went 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI.

Obenrader said she was “nervous but ready” heading into the game and feels good about the season moving

forward.

Saegertown is now 2-0 on the season while Maplewood drops to 0-3.

Panthers upend RG

FRANKLIN — Saegertown scored five runs in the seventh inning to rally past Rocky Grove 7-3 on Tuesday in Region 2 softball action.