Five-run third inning sparks Methacton’s PAC win over Perk Valley

WORCESTER >> After going down 1-2-3 in the first two innings, the Methacton offense came alive against Perk Valley.

The Warriors scored five runs in the bottom of the third inning and added two home runs later in the game to pick up a Pioneer Athletic Conference win, 8-2, Monday afternoon at Methacton High School.

Nicole Timko started the bottom of the third with a single and, after a line out, Kelci Cost hit an RBI double to break the scoreless tie. Nichole Dorn followed with a double of her own, scoring pinch-runner Liv Terry, to make it 2-0.

“We string it together when we most need it,” Cost said. “That’s really our key. We pick up for each other. That’s where we really succeed as a team.”

Abby Penjuke followed and struck out, but reached first on a dropped third strike. Two batters later, Caraline Newman walked to load the bases.

Taylor Angelillis worked another walk to bring home Dorn and knock Perk Valley starter Ava Macalis from the game.

Tori Bockrath greeted PV’s new pitcher, Katie Hurd, with a two-run double to cap off the five-run third.

“I would say (the fifth inning) was the difference,” Perk Valley coach Joe Bogus said. “Otherwise it was a very good game from both teams. You have to give them credit — they hit the ball when they needed to.”

The Warriors (9-4, 9-3 PAC) other runs came courtesy of the long ball. Dorn hit a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth and Cost blasted a two-run homer off the left field scoreboard in the sixth.

“That was my favorite pitch,” Cost said. “I was happy. It was the first pitch, I liked it and I went for it.

“Oh yeah,” she added, knowing the ball was gone off the bat. “You can normally tell when it hits the sweet spot.”

While the offense was putting up runs, Methacton pitcher Caroline Pellicano was keeping the Perk Valley offense in check. She allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings of work. She struck out five batters to one walk.

“Our screwball was really working,” Cost, a junior catcher, said, “and our curveball. Our curve is what got most people today and our rise caught a lot of people off guard.”

The Vikings (7-5, 6-4 PAC) scored in the fourth and sixth innings. Jordan Sell doubled in the fourth and scored on a Sela Fusco single to make it 5-1. Sell reached on an error in the sixth, advanced to second on an Ash Bangert single and scored on another Fusco single.

“(Bangert) and (Sell) had good games hitting,” Bogus said. “So did (Fusco) — she had two hits, too.

“We hit the ball but a lot of times we hit it at people and they made nice defensive plays … They’re a good team and good teams make good plays. We knew when we came here we better be ready to play.”

Macalis took the loss for Perk Valley. In 2 2/3 innings she allowed five runs on three hits. She walked two batters to four strikeouts.

Hurd came on in relief, giving up three runs on three hits. She struck out three batters to one walk. She totaled 3 1/3 innings to close out the game despite fouling a ball off her leg at the plate.

Both teams entered the game currently in the District 1 Class-6A playoffs. The top 24 teams qualify for the postseason. Methacton was No. 16 and Perk Valley No. 21.

“We play (Tuesday),” Bogus said. “We play Wednesday. We play Thursday. No rest for the weary. Just have to keep playing and do the best we can.”