North Penn ends Northampton's season 1-0 on a one-hitter

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FROM KEITH GROLLER

North Penn sophomore Jackie Bilotti tossed a one-hitter and the Maidens made the most of their two hits off Marly Laubach to post a 1-0 win over the Konkrete Kids on Monday night in the first round of the PIAA 4A softball tournament at Patriots Park.

Northampton's season ended at 22-3.

The Konkrete Kids had just two baserunners, a first-inning walk by Megan Tiwold and a fourth-inning single by Tori Gollie.

Meanwhile, North Penn (17-9) won its first state playoff game since winning the PIAA title in 1985.

The Maidens, who were shut out in both the District One semis and consolation game last week and were no-hitted in one of them, had baserunners in just one inning against Northampton ace Marly Laubach.

Erin Maher led off the fourth with an infield single, stole second and moved to third on Bilotti's sacrifice bunt. Vicky Tumasz then grounded a single through the middle for the game's first -- and last -- run.

Laubach, who struck out five and walked none, finished out the game, and her career, by retiring the last 11 hitters she faced. 

However, Northampton could get nothing going against Bilotti.

"We played solid defense and Marly stayed true to her form, but we just couldn't get the offense going," K-Kids coach Sally Whittaker-Kahan said. "It would have been easy for Marly to get frustrated, wondering where the heck the hits are. But for her to pitch so well and not have the offense behind her had to be very nerve-wracking. Regardless of that, she always stays strong and pitches her game. That's what I love about Marly."

Laubach, like the rest of her senior teammates, fought back the tears as the team gathered in the outfield after the game.

"It's kind of a heartbreaker, but obviously all of the seniors are going on to bigger and better things and the girls who are coming back can try to push for it again," Laubach said. "You have to score to win games, and we had a zero on the board. We knew we had to score at least one to win.

"It was still a good season and I was happy to go out with such a great group of girls."

Northampton's defeat marked the seventh straight year that the District 11 4A champ lost its first round game.

Parkland did win the 4A championship in 2009, but came into the tournament as the district runnerup.

North Penn  000 100 0 -- 1 2 0

Northampton 000 000 0 -- 0 1 0

Bilotti and Christoffer; Laubach and Peters.