NTL SOFTBALL: HILEY EARNS FIRST VARSITY WIN; ATHENS ROLLS OVER SAYRE, 14-2 (24 PHOTOS) (2024-04-20)

Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — Freshman Gretchan Hiley earned her first varsity win in the pitcher’s circle, and also had a big day at the plate to lead Athens to a 14-2 five-inning win over crosstown rival Sayre here Saturday afternoon in NTL softball action.

Gretchan Hiley allowed two runs — one earned — on four hits, while striking out nine and walking two in five innings to earn the win.

Gretchan Hiley led off the game with a single, and scored on a line-drive RBI double down the left-field line to give the Wildcats a quick 1-0 lead.

Athens put the game away in the second inning, scoring eight runs after there were two outs to take a 9-0 lead.

The rally featured RBI tripled by Gretchan Hiley and junior Savannah Persun, and RBI singles by Maddie Hiley, and junior Jules Pack, and Marisa Butler.

Athens added another run in the third inning, and four more in the fourth to extend the led to 14-0.

Sayre did not have a hit until junior Abbie McGaughey stroked a one-out RBI single in the home half of the fourth inning to make it 14-1.

Sayre added a run in the fifth inning on an RBI single y senior Meghan Flynn to score senior Layla Bennett, who led off the frame with a single.

Butler stroked three singled, scored two runs, and had three RBI, and Gretchan Hiley tripled and singled, scored two runs, and had three RBI to lead Athens’ 12-hit attack, while Maddie Hiley doubled and singled, and drove in two runs, and Pack singled twice, scored two runs, and knocked in one run.

Persun tripled, scored one run, and drove in one run in the win, while junior Ella Coyle, and sophomore Savannah Finan each singled and scored one run, junior Gretchan Schmieg scored three runs, and freshman McKenna Jarvis, and freshman Ruby Kocsis each crossed the plate once.

Flynn singled, scored one run, and drove in one run for the Redskins, while McGaughey singled and drove in one run, Bennett singled, and scored one run, and junior Raegan Parrish added a single.

Freshman Zoe Ward was tagged with the loss, allowing five earned runs on 12 hits, and four walks in five innings in the circle.

Athens, now 3-4, returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Troy, while Sayre, now 2-5, is off until Wednesday when it hosts Cowanesque Valley.

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IN PHOTO 1: Athens freshman Gretchan Hiley. … PHOTOS BY MATT PATTON.