Triple Threat: Trio of inside-the-park home runs the difference for Avon Grove in state semifinal

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Topton >> Warming up at Lyons Field for the PIAA Class AAAA semifinal Monday morning, with the 265-foot deep outfield walls in the background, Avon Grove’s hitters figured they wouldn’t be hitting many balls out of the park against Hazleton.
So the Red Devils focused on making line-drive swings, and it paid off. All of the runs Avon Grove scored in its 4-2 win against Hazleton were the result of inside-the-park home runs.
Three of them, to be exact.
Avon Grove leadoff hitter and left fielder Meghan Nolan, who scored the go-ahead run on Maggie Balint’s two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning, said, “We knew about the 265-foot walls, so we were trying to hit line drives today.”
The first inside-the-park homer came in the top half of the second inning, when right fielder Camryn Laterza lined an opposite-field shot off Hazleton pitcher Celine Podlesny on the first pitch (which was slightly outside) into the gap in right center that kept rolling. Laterza raced around the bases to give the Red Devils a 1-0 lead.

 

The scouting report on Podlesny was that the Hazleton hurler liked to throw outside, and Laterza was ready and waiting.
“We had been working on hitting outside pitches at practice, and I was ready for her pitch, and I took it to the opposite field,” Laterza said. “It was a very hard-hit ball, and I had a feeling that it was going to roll, and I ran it out as fast as I could. I was thinking of making a line-drive swing when I came to the plate, and after I hit it, the ball kept rolling.”
Laterza’s adrenaline was still running strong after the game.
“To advance to the state final is amazing, and I think we’re going to do well,” Laterza said.
In the top of the third inning, with Avon Grove leading 1-0, Red Devil third baseman Rachel Butler came to bat with two outs and the bases empty and lashed a shot into the gap in left center.
“I was really excited when I hit it, because I’ve kind of been in a hitting slump, so it really boosted my confidence,” said Butler, who was batting in the No. 5 spot. “I knew that having two runs on the board was a lot better for Maggie, and put us in a better position to win the game.
“We were told that [Podlesny] pitches the ball on the outside a lot, and we tried to adjust to her in the first inning. When she started coming inside, we started hitting better.”
In the top of the seventh, Balint, the lone senior Red Devil, came to bat with the score tied 2-2, Nolan on second and two out. On a 2-1 pitch, Balint sent a shot into right center field that kept rolling, and the speedy Balint circled the bases. It was her second hit of the game.
“From where I was standing at second base, I could see that the catcher was set up for an outside pitch,” Nolan said. “But it came right down the middle.”
“We have confidence in Maggie, on the mound and at the plate,” Butler said. “In the seventh inning, we were just trying to hit the ball on the ground, try not to pop up, get baserunners one at a time.
“Going to the state final is the best feeling ever. We’ve come so far this season.”
As the only senior, Balint rushed home after the game to prepare for Avon Grove’s commencement ceremony Monday night.
“I’m graduating tonight, and we’re going to the state final on Thursday,” Balint said. “This week has been mind-blowing.”

Bruce Adams

Bruce Adams
Bruce Adams is the Sports Editor at Main Line Media News.

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