NTL SOFTBALL: ATHENS FALLS BEHIND EARLY IN 4-2 LOSS AT TROY IN SEASON OPENER (4 PHOTOS) (2024-03-26)

Valley Sports Report
EAST TROY — Athens fell behind early, and never recovered in a season-opening, 4-2, setback against Troy here Tuesday afternoon in NTL Large School Division softball action.

The Trojans plated one run in the home half of the first inning, and three more in the second to take a 4-0 lead.

Athens got on the board in the top of the third inning without the benefit of a hit to close the gap to 4-1.

Junior Savannah Persun worked a one-out walk for the Wildcats, and ended up on third base after senior Ashlyn VanFleet, and sophomore Maddie Hiley were hit by consecutive pitches to load the bases.

Junior Emma Coyle delivered a run with a sacrifice fly, but Troy reliever Kali Ayres ended the inning with a strikeout.

Persun, who allowed five hits in the first two innings for the Wildcats, settled down, and gave up just three hits over the final four innings.

Sophomore Danica May’s one-out single in the fourth inning was Athens’ only hit of the game until the seventh inning.

With two outs in the top of the seventh inning, freshman Gretchen Hiley reached on an error, then Persun singled, and VanFleet stroked an RBI single to cut the deficit to 4-2.

After a four-pitch walk to Maddie Hiley, Ayres induced a fly ball to center field to end the game.

Persun was tagged with the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits, while striking out five, and walking three.

VanFleet singled, and drove in one run, while Persun singled, and scored one run, May added a single, Coyle drove in one run, and Gretchen Hiley scored one run.

Athens returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Wyalusing.

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IN PHOTO 1: Athens sophomore Savannah Persun. … PHOTOS BY JOE CARREON.