Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Pen Argyl advances to fourth straight Colonial League final with 7-2 win over Southern Lehigh

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/

FROM KEITH GROLLER


Emily Smull (photo below on right) has enjoyed a lot of great experiences in her Pen Argyl softball career, but one she has never experienced before is getting to play against Bangor in a league championship game.
That will happen on Thursday night.
Pen Argyl photos 002
Smull was the winning pitcher and knocked in four runs -- hitting a three-run home run in the first inning -- as the Green Knights started fast and finished strong in a 7-2 semifinal win over Southern Lehigh.
Pen Argyl (17-4) will face its Slate Belt rival Bangor at 5 p.m. Thursday back at Pates.
It will be the fourth consecutive title game appearance for the Green Knights, who won the crown in 2012 before losing to Catasauqua last year.
"You can't ask for more than getting to four straight league championship games," Smull said. "It's awesome. It's not just me, it's all of my teammates.I don't have to strike out people for us to win games. We have such a great defense."
That defense turned four double plays, included one that helped Smull escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the fifth inning.
A double by Danielle Mullin, a single by Nicole Siffel and a walk to Krystna Elsner loaded the bases. Hanna Dorsey tapped back to Smull, who started the 1-2-3 double play. She then handled a comebackere to Sophia Rizzo to end the inning.
Double plays in the sixth and seventh than secured Smull's 49th career victory, tying her with Stacy Rohn for the school record, and a return trip to Allentown on Thursday night.
Laura Zanette (pictured below left) provided some breathing room with a two-run triple in the bottom of the fifth. Zanette also singled and scored on Smull's long home run in the first.Pen Argyl photos 001
"One of the first things you're taught when you come to Pen Argyl and play sports is that you have to beat Bangor," Smull said. "The fact that we're playing Bangor for a championship in my senior year is really, really awesome. We have a lot of familiarity with them and we're friends with a lot of their players. But it's still a huge rivalry. They are the biggest rival we could possibly have for a championship game."
Southern Lehigh     010 100 0 -- 2 9 2
Pen Argyl              311 020 x -- 7 8 4
A. Herr and Siffel; Smull and Kresch. HRs: PA, Smull (1st, 2 on).

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