Halford outduels Lofland as Garnet Valley hands Conestoga first loss

BERWYN—Outside the fourth inning, Conestoga pitcher Lauren Lofland was just about perfect, allowing just one base runner in the other six innings. But Garnet Valley (11-3) knocked three extra base hits in the fateful fourth, then played great defense behind pitcher Becca Halford to hand Conestoga (13-1) its first loss of the season, 3-2.

“The whole game revolved around us picking each other up,” said Garnet coach Allie Alkins. “We finally were able to string together a few hits, and then Morgan (Mesaros) just put the icing on the cake in that big inning for us.”

Conestoga took the early lead, pushing a run across in the first. Libby Winters led off with a walk, then came into score when Olivia Cepieler stroked a triple down the right field line, then sat back as Lofland sat down the next six straight, including three by the whiff.

In the top of the fourth, the Jags’ Lindsey Hunt came up with one out, and delivered a shot to the fence in center, pulling in with a stand-up double. Up came Kelly McLaughlin, who followed with an extra base hit of her own, an RBI triple to center. When the throw to third sailed out of play, McLaughlin came in with the go-ahead run.

With two outs and the bases empty, Mesaros strolled to the plate, and launched a bomb to center. The solo home run made it a 3-1 Jags lead.

“I don’t really remember what the pitch was, other than it got a lot of white, maybe a little outside,” said Mesaros. “I knew it was a big hit. Becca pitched an amazing game for us, and we all just had to have her back. I think things are really coming together for us. We’ve got some great momentum right now.”

The Pioneers answered back with a run in the fifth, with Claire Overton knocking in Sofia Angelucci, who had reached on a one-out double. But then Halford settled in, retiring six of the last seven hitters she faced, with the lone base runner reaching on an error.

Halford earned the pitching win, going the distance. She allowed two runs on four scattered hits, striking out six while walking two.

“I know that Conestoga is a really tough team, so I tried to stay focused on each hitter,” said Halford. “My teammates played great defense behind me, and we all worked hard for this win. We’re playing really well as a team right now, and just have to keep it going.”

The Jags are on a seven game winning streak, and are now right back in the hunt for a Central League title.

“We’ve kind of come together as a group,” said Alkins. “We’re playing good, fundamental softball, and we’re doing the little things right. It’s great to have momentum, and we’ve got to keep it going. We have another big game (Thursday) against Ridley.”

Lofland takes the hard-luck loss, allowing three runs on four hits. She struck out seven, and did not walk a single batter.

Conestoga can’t dwell on the loss, as they square off against Haverford on Thursday, another important Central League match-up.

“This is just one loss, and we have to have a short memory,” said Conestoga coach Pete Ricci. “We played well today, just came up a little short. We need to relegate this to the review mirror, and keep looking through the windshield forward.”