Cinti’s double lifts Spring-Ford past PV, 5-2

ROYERSFORD >> At this point, it’s all about maintaining separation.

Monday night, Spring-Ford did its part. 

Sophia Cinti knocked in a game-high three RBI on a critical third-inning double while Sam Lindsay was effective again in the circle as the Rams topped Perkiomen Valley 5-2 to move into first place in the PAC-10 standings.

“It was a team effort,” Spring-Ford head coach Tim Hughes said. “Everybody did their job. It was a solid team effort, and I’m very proud of them.”

The win puts the Rams (9-2 PAC-10) 1 1/2 games ahead of Methacton (7-2 PAC-10 after 3-2 loss to Pottsgrove Monday) for first place in the conference with seven league games remaining. Six teams are currently vying for the top four spots with OJR (16-0 winners over Pottstown) and Boyertown (5-3 winners over Upper Perk) only 1 1/2 games back of fourth.

http://papreplive.com/softball/2016-pioneer-athletic-conference-standings/

If the offense keeps producing like it did Monday, don’t worry about the Rams’ playoff position.

Cinti’s double in the third did the damage for Spring-Ford as she connected with a first-pitch offering from PV’s Emily Oltman down the left-field line to score Morgan Maziarz, Megan Kern (game-high four hits) and Maggie McConney (two hits; RBI) to make it 3-0. It kickstarted a four-run inning and provided more than enough for Lindsay in the circle. The freshman righthander went all seven innings, allowing seven hits and two earned while striking out one in picking up her eighth win of the season.

“The kids are playing well,” Hughes said. “They’re doing everything we’re asking them to do and you can’t ask for much more than that. Some of the balls are going to bounce our way, some of them aren’t. A couple balls there could have went their way, but it didn’t.”

“They (Spring-Ford) deserve to win,” PV head coach Dan McLaughlin said. “They were more fundamentally sound and they outplayed us today. They were the better team so tip your hat to them. Obviously we have some things to work on but we have three more games this week to get it right.”

PV (7-3 PAC-10) got two hits apiece from Ana Bruni and Jordan Sell in the loss. Four errors and nine runners left on base did the Vikings in as they couldn’t provide the key hit when needed, stranding the game-tying run at second in the sixth inning.

Oltman took the loss in the circle, pitching six innings and allowing five runs (four earned) while walking four and striking out five.