CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS — Wednesday’s Region 2 softball contest between Cambridge Springs and Saegertown was an instant classic for fans in attendance. The pitchers’ duel went 10 innings, with the Blue Devils winning 1-0 in the bottom of the tenth.
“Wow. That’s all I can say. Both teams played great, there were excellent defensive stands, the pitchers did a really good job,” Cambridge Springs head coach Angie Mumford said. “They took away some hits, there were runners left on base for both sides. It was a great game to watch as a softball fan.”
The defensive masterclass by both teams featured plenty of strikeouts and defensive stands. Neither team reached third base til the bottom of the fifth when the Blue Devils put Carly Cunningham on after her double. Payton Leandro singled on a bunt to put runners in the corners with one down.
Not shaken, freshman Hailey Obenrader delivered back-to-back strikeouts for Saegertown.
In the bottom of the seventh, still scoreless, Obenrader exited the game due to injury with one out and two on base. Rylee Price stepped up and delivered a strikeout before catcher Maddy Pratt threw out a Cambridge Springs runner attempting to steal third, which forced extra innings.
“We believe in each other, which allows us to say it didn’t happen here, but it will happen next. The next person is the next best person,” Mumford said. “Just believing that whoever is up to bat, they will get the job done. If a ball is hit to them, they will get the job done. We believe in Kayla on the mound. It’s each little step.”
Cambridge Springs ace Kayla Crawford struck out the side in the top of the eighth and put her team back on offense. After a leadoff fly out, freshman Angela Hassinger doubled to left field. Jayden Simmons and Morgan Dunton were each intentionally walked to load the bases.
The gamble paid off for Saegertown, as Seton Hill commit Rylie Braymer made a diving catch over the middle, then tagged second base for a double play.
“Rylie Braymer made a diving catch up the middle, that was ball game,” Saegertown head coach Derek Peterman said. “You see that at the collegiate level, not the high school level.”
Each team reached second in the ninth off of errors, but couldn’t capitalize. In the 10th, Miley Manning hit a leadoff single, but the Panthers couldn’t take advantage of two runners on.
A walk and hit by pitch loaded the bases for the Blue Devils before Quinn Eaglen took home on a wild pitch, a score that sent the Blue Devils’ dugout into a frenzy.
“It was a heck of a pitchers’ duel. That’s pretty much what softball is all about. Props to them and their pitcher. She did a great job. She had us off balance the whole time,” Peterman said. “We were on the unfortunate side with a key injury. Rylee Price hasn’t pitched all year and came in for some big situations and we held on for two and a half more innings with some awesome defensive plays.”
Obenrader struck out 13 for Saegertown and walked two with three hits allowed. Manning had two hits for Saegertown. Braymer, Mackenzie Brauen, and Natalie Halsey each added one.
Saegertown is 7-4 overall and 4-4 in Region 2 action with two losses each to Cambridge Springs and Cochranton. The Panthers are scheduled to play a non-region game at Moniteau on Friday.
“They were playing for a region championship today and they came out fired up. But over these last few games, we’ve shown some serious character,” Peterman said. “It’s tough to just say that, but you almost have to be here to see what kind of vibe we bring.
“I am very proud of our girls. We’re gonna move forward, dig deep and see what we can do.”
Crawford fanned 16 and walked one with five hits allowed for Cambridge Springs. Hassinger, Cunningham, Leandro and Simmons each had hits for the Blue Devils.
Cambridge Springs is 11-1 on the year and 6-1 in the region. The Blue Devils lone loss is to Cochranton, and they have an opportunity for revenge today. Cambridge Springs hosts Cochranton today at 4:30. The Cardinals are 7-0 in region play and with a win, the Blue Devils could split the region title.
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Saegertown (0)
(AB-R-H-BI) Braymer 5-0-1-0, Brauen 4-0-1-0, Obenrader 3-0-0-0, Orosz 1-0-0-0, Pratt 4-0-0-0, Halsey 4-0-1-0, Price 3-0-0-0, McGill 4-0-0-0, Manning 4-0-2-0, Amick 4-0-0-0. Totals 37-0-5-0.
Cambridge Springs (1)
(AB-R-H-BI) Eaglen 3-1-0-0, Hassinger 4-0-1-0, Simmons 4-0-1-0, Dunton 3-0-0-0, A. Crawford 4-0-0-0, Murawski 4-0-0-0, Cunningham 3-0-1-0, K. Crawford 3-0-0-0, Leandro 4-0-1-0. Totals 32-1-4-0.
Saegertown 000 000 000 0 — 0 5 1
Cambridge Springs 000 000 000 1 — 1 4 2
BATTING
2B: S — Manning; CS — Hassinger, Cunningham.
PITCHING
(IP-H-R-ER-BB-SO) S — Obenrader 6.1-3-0-0-2-13, Price 3.1-1-1-0-3-1; CS — Crawford 10-5-0-0-1-16.