Hershberger’s hitting, Sutton’s pitching leads Lady Colonials over LH
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Albert Gallatin first baseman Abby Vance stretches to make the out on a throw from second baseman Shayla Reynolds before Laurel Highlands’ Allison Lowery gets to the bag during the first inning of Thursday’s Section 1-AAAAA game at Albert Gallatin. Lowery, who was safe on the play, had an RBI double for the Fillies.
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Maddy Hershberger bats during Albert Gallatin’s Section 1-AAAAA game against Laurel Highlands on Thursday at Albert Gallatin. Hershberger had a double, home run and five RBIs in the Lady Colonials’ 15-1 victory.
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Albert Gallatin’s Maria Sutton pitches during Thursday’s Section 1-AAAAA game against Laurel Highlands at Albert Gallatin. Sutton allowed one run in the Lady Colonials’ 14-1 victory.
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Laurel Highlands’ Sydney Petrowski pitches during the first inning of Thursday’s Section 1-AAAAA game against Albert Gallatin at Albert Gallatin Area High School.
YORK RUN — Maria Sutton got plenty of support in her pitching debut, as Maddy Hershberger had five RBIs in Albert Gallatin’s 15-1 Section 1-AAAAA victory over Laurel Highlands on Thursday at Albert Gallatin Area High School.
The Lady Colonials (4-5, 4-6) have qualified for the WPIAL semifinals and state playoffs the last two seasons, but have suffered from four one-run losses in section play this year, including two to undefeated Penn-Trafford.
“We’ve been so close in a number of our games, and we’ve played well, except for one inning,” Albert Gallatin coach Larry Flowers said. “The girls are playing hard and don’t give up. We needed sort of a game like this today to get things back on track. We will play all of the teams we lost to again expect Penn-Trafford, and we still have a shot. It’s cliche to say, but we have to take it one game at a time.”
Flowers decided to go with Sutton to give his usual pitching duo of Hershberger and Maddie Flowers a rest. Sutton allowed one run on five hits in five innings. She had four strikeouts and no walks.
“She (Sutton) is a very, very hard-working game and it was her turn to go,” Coach Flowers said. “She did great. We are very proud of her (Sutton). I know when they are on because I am calling the pitches and Maria was on today. She pitched very good and I am very happy with how she threw.”
Hershberger, who was an important piece for Albert Gallatin the last two seasons, believes the Lady Colonials are due for a run and a return to the playoffs for the third straight year.
“It is like a breath of fresh air to come out here and have a good game like this,” Hershberger said. “It reminds us that we still know how to do this. I am so ready to play Latrobe. Their pitcher (Jordan Tallman) is very good and on my travel team. I honestly think the second half of this season is a new season. I think if we make it to playoffs we’ll be fine because we are playing playoff-level teams right now. I think our hot streak is coming.”
Hershberger certainly did her part against the Fillies (2-7, 2-9) with a three-run home run in the third, a two-run double in the second, and she got the scoring started for the home team in the first when a fly ball she hit in the outfield was misplayed for Albert Gallatin’s first two runs.
“I was struggling there for a couple of games with my hitting, and Coach Rick Turtzer looked at me and said, ‘You are a little bit late, back in the box,’ and in the next at-bat, I hit a home run,” Hershberger said. “That was in the beginning of the week, and yesterday I went 2 for 4 and I hit decent, and that’s because I was back in the box.”
The Lady Colonials scored two runs in the first, six in the second and seven in the third.
The Fillies scored in the third when Allison Lowery doubled to left field to score courtesy runner Lexi Grimm, who was on for pitcher Sydney Petrowski, who singled.
Lowery, a junior who has verbally committed to Robert Morris University, had two hits for head coach Ryan Rates.
“We have been struggling to find ourselves and didn’t have our best effort today,” Laurel Highlands assistant coach Tony Lowery said. “Not to make excuses, but we are still trying to feel this team out. We didn’t get into the gym or approved as coaches until Day 1, so we are really far behind and a work in progress. We are probably where we should have been back in February.”
Kaelyn Dewar and Sydney Grimm had the other base hits for Laurel Highlands.
“You have to play travel ball year round, and we have several that do that, and they (Albert Gallatin) do that, and it makes a difference,” Coach Lowery said. “You need reps. We battled and try to be in every game. In my opinion, we need a good offseason.”
Maddie Flowers had three singles, three RBIs and two runs scored and teammate Abby Vance had two hits, including a double, and one run scored. Rylea Hlatky had two hits, one RBI and one run scored for the home team.