Pennsbury softball blanks Abington on Hileman 2-hitter
FAIRLESS HILLS >> Although its 10-0 victory over Abington on Wednesday, April 12 might look like business as usual, keep in mind the Pennsbury High softball team had lost three of its last four games to the Galloping Ghosts.
As such, the mood on the Pennsbury bench was positively upbeat as the Lady Falcons raised their record to 5-1 after coming off a season in which they had their first losing season in school history.
“This is a good win; they are a good team,” said Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry of an Abington team that was beating Neshaminy into the fifth inning the day before. “This is one of those years where everyone (in the Suburban One National League) can beat each other.”
That last statement may prove to be a bit of a stretch, but you can understand the Falcons’ caution after what transpired last year. On the other hand, the team is definitely back to playing Pennsbury softball with a solid defense and a host of pesky hitters who can put the ball into play.
One of them is sophomore Allison Rose, who wasn’t even with the program last year. She sure is this year as she continued to tear it up out of the clean-up spot with two hits and four RBIs. One of those hits was a two-run double off the glove of the Abington centerfielder in the first inning that opened the scoring.
By the time all was said and finished, Pennsbury had smacked 14 hits against Megan Burdziak, who had beaten the Falcons before and isn’t as bad as Wednesday’s final score might indicate.
Leading the way for Pennsbury with three hits was pitcher Alyssa Hileman, who also posted her fifth pitching win of the year. Hileman tossed a two-hitter, struck out five and didn’t allow more than one runner in any of the five innings.
Impressively, Hileman has also not walked a single batter this year in 40 innings of work.
“Alyssa really hit her spots today,” said McSherry of his junior pitcher who has already committed to play for former Falcon great Niki Cognigni at the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown. “She was hurt a lot last year, but she has also really improved.”
Collecting two hits apiece were leadoff batter Sydney Jackimowicz, Carley Parsons, Arden Rabiger and Olivia Mauro. One of Rabiger’s hits was a double that hit the left field fence on one bounce. Mauro, meanwhile, ended the game with a double down the left field line in the fifth inning after Pennsbury had buried the Ghosts with a five-run fourth.
Nearly every Pennsbury player contributed in some way, including No. 9 batter Sierra Daley who stroked a single and drove home a run with a sac-fly.
“We hit, we fielded well (no errors) and Alyssa pitched a great game,” said McSherry. “You have to be happy with that.”
TOP PHOTO: Junior righthander Alyssa Hileman pitched a two-hitter in the Lady Falcons’ shutout win over Abington. (Steve Sherman – 21st-Century Media file photo)
Pennsbury 10, Abington 0
(April 12 at Pennsbury)
Abington 000 00 – 0 3 3
Pennsbury (5-1) 220 51 – 10 14 0
WP – Hileman; LP – Burdziak; 2B – Mauro (P), Rabiger (P), Rose (P); RBIs – Parsons, Rabiger, Rose 4, Hileman, Mauro, Brady, Daley.
