Bartholow’s hard work on the mound leads to upset victory
CALIFORNIA – Erica Bartholow had a simple request when reporters approached her following Monday’s WPIAL Class AAAA first-round softball game. “Ask me something easy,” asked Connellsville’s sophomore pitcher.
After all of the hard work she put into the Lady Falcons’ 3-1 upset win over Kiski Area, Bartholow deserved something easy.
Bartholow struck out nine and walked only one. Through six innings, she allowed only three harmless singles and no runs before finishing with a five-hitter and a 3-1 win.
“We played a complete game,” Lady Falcons coach Max Bukovac said. “When you get great pitching, timely hitting, good bunting and extra-base hits, you’re going to win a lot of games.
“Erica was really sharp today. The way she was throwing, I figured if we’d give her a run or two, we’d be hard to beat.”
It was one of those games where the first team to score a run appeared likely to win. Bartholow and Kiski Area’s Lauren Yohe put up zeroes through five innings before Connellsville busted through for a pair in the top of the sixth.
Emily Stout walked and moved around on Cassie Show’s sacrifice bunt and another groundout. Megan Parsons singled home Stout. Brittany Marra reached on a fielder’s choice with pinch-runner June Stefano arriving safely at second. Liz Bell followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0.
“Those runs were huge,” Bartholow said of the confidence boost she got from the 2-0 lead. “Our attitude was great the whole game. We all showed up today.”
Connellsville added a run in the top of the seventh when Kylie Hamborsky doubled and scored on Show’s triple to make it 3-0. Kiski Area got its run when Kayla Weiser led off with a double and moved to third on an error. She scored on Kristi Marsili’s one-out single.
But Bartholow shut the door, getting the last out on a strike out.
“This was a good ball game on both sides,” Bukovac said. “We were a little bit better and played a complete game. From our first at-bat of the game, we were making good solid contact with the ball. I knew all Erica needed was a run the way she was pitching.”
Bartholow said she had some extra energy because she limited her Sunday workout to help preserve her strength.
“My curveball was really working for me today,” she said. “It bailed me out a lot and kept me going.”
The Lady Falcons face Seneca Valley in the quarterfinals and Bartholow was asked if she was going to eat the same food (pizza) before that game. “Everybody on this team is going to eat the same thing they ate today,” she said.
As for Bukovac, he wants to savor this one a little longer.
“I told the girls before we made it to the playoffs, if we get to the dance, we’re going to dance. We danced today and I’m happy for them. We proved we can beat anybody in the playoffs.”