NTL SOFTBALL: ATHENS ROLLS TO TITLE AT CENTRAL COLUMBIA TOURNEY (24 PHOTOS) (2024-04-27)


VanFLEET BLASTS THREE HOMERS, NAMED MVP; HILEYS, PACK NAMED TO ALL-TOURNEY TEAM

Valley Sports Report
BLOOMSBURG — Athens fed off its doubleheader sweep at Wellsboro Friday, and posted a pair of impressive lopsided wins here Saturday to win the Central Columbia Tournament.

Athens, which swept Wellsboro by scores of 18-0 and 15-0 Friday, opened the day with a 16-0 four-inning win over Milton, then rolled to a 20-0 three-inning win over Central Columbia in the championship game.

“We hit the ball hard, and had lights out pitching,” said Athens coach Brian Wendela.

“The girls again came out focused and loose, and looked like they were just having fun playing softball as a group,” he noted. “That’s the way this game is meant to be played.

“There has been a lot of confident at-bats the last few days, and the whole team just looked completely comfortable in the batter box,” he said. “All 13 girls on the roster have really contributed and taken advantage of opportunities.

“We took advantage of mixing big first innings in both games with strong pitching performances out of Savannah Persun and Gretchan Hiley and we never looked back,” continued Wendela. “I think our experience being battle-tested early in the season with our NTL schedule has been paying dividends.

“We have lots of softball left, but I think the team is really starting to understand when we do the little things the right way and play together as a team that we can be a scary team to play on any given day,” added Wendela.

Senior Ashlyn VanFleet was named tournament MVP. She was 4-for-6 with a walk, three home runs, six runs scored, and nine RBI.

Junior Jules Pack, sophomore Maddi Hiley, and freshman Gretchan Hiley were named to the all-tournament team.

“I’m very proud of all four of the girls, and the team’s accomplishments the last few days,” said Wendela. “I’m excited to get back to work on Monday and see if we can keep it rolling.”

Opening Round
Athens 16, Milton 0, 4 innings
Athens pounded out 19 hits in four innings in support of junior Savannah Persun’s one-hitter in a 16-0 four-inning win over Milton in the opening round of the Central Columbia Tournament.

Persun fanned 10 and walked two in four innings to earn the win.

Athens scored six runs in the top of the first inning, added two in the second, five in the third, and tacked on three more in the fourth.

Senior Ashlyn VanFleet belted a pair of home runs, scored three runs, and had six RBI, while junior Jules Pack was 4-for-4 with a double, one run scored, and three RBI, and junior Ella Coyle was 3-for-3 with three runs scored, and three stolen bases to pace the Wildcats at the plate.

Sophomore Maddie Hiley had three hits, including a double, and two runs scored in the win, while freshman Ruby Kocsis, and sophomore Savannah Finan each doubled, scored one run, and drove in one run, and sophomore Danica May singled, scored one run, and knocked in one run.

Senior Marissa Butler singled and scored one run for the Wildcats, while freshman McKenna Jarvis added a single, and Persun scored one run, and drove in one run.

Championship Game
Athens 20, Central Columbia 0
Athens scored 14 runs in the second inning en route to a 20-0 three-inning win over Central Columbia in the championship game of the tournament.

Freshman Gretchen Hiley tossed a no-hitter, striking out six and walking three in three innings to earn the win.

Senior Ashlyn VanFleet homered and singled, scored three runs, and had three RBI, while sophomore Maddie Hiley was 3-for-3 with a double, three runs scored, and three RBI, and junior Jules Pack doubled and singled, scored three runs, and drove in two runs to pace Athens’ 11-hit attack.

Junior Savannah Persun singled and scored three runs in the win, while freshman McKenna Jarvis tripled, scored two runs, stole three bases, and knocked in three runs, sophomore Danica May singled, scored one run, stole four bases, and drove in two runs, and sophomore Savannah Finan singled and scored two runs.

Junior Ella Coyle scored two runs, and had one RBI for the Wildcats, while senior Marissa Butler had one RBI, and freshman Gretchen Hiley scored one run.

Athens, now 7-5, returns to action Tuesday at Wyalusing.

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IN PHOTO 1: Athens senior Ashlyn VanFleet watches one of her homers. … PHOTOS COURTESY OF BECKY FASSETT.