MILROY -- Despite an unexpected day off due to the weather, Danville 10-11 Softball manager Jimmy Getkin felt his team was ready for the opening game of pool play in the Pennsylvania State Tournament Western Qualifier at Armagh Memorial Fields on Saturday.
Displaying all facets of the game against Everett, Danville got timely hits led by three RBIs by Kylie Edwards, great pitching in a two-hitter from Addy Jo Burkland and throw in some almost flawless defense, it all turned Saturday's game into an easy 8-1 victory.
"We were real confident that we were peaking at the right time," Getkin said. "Everybody is playing well right now. I can't point to one girl and say she's the reason we won this game."
Danville will face North East in its second game of pool play at 1 p.m. today. Everett squares off with West Point, also at 1 p.m.
Edwards got the offense started in the second inning. After Kasey Getkin singled and Hallie Yacko walked, Edwards smacked a hard double to left field to knock home both runs. Abbey Drumheller laid down a beautiful bunt that hugged the third-base line and stayed fair. She went to second when Everett left the base uncovered. After Burkland walked to load the bases, Zina Knight walked to force the third run of the inning home. After two outs, Lindsey Strausser walked to force the final run home of the inning.
Danville pushed the lead to 6-0 with two more runs in the fourth. Yacko reached on an outfield error and scored on Edwards triple down the right-field line. Claire Furman then plated Edwards with a ground out to second.
Meanwhile, Burkland and the Danville defense were making quick work of the Everett. After walking the first Everett hitter of the game, Burkland retired the next 13 hitters in a row before losing her no-hitter on a one-out single in the fifth by Raelyn Rice. Burkland struck out three and walked two. She allowed only two hits and no earned runs.
"(A.J.) is very consistent and she throws a lot of strikes," Jimmy Getkin said. "Our pitching staff has been great in the tournament. We've only used three pitchers, but we have plenty more."
Danville showed off a little leather as well -- Burkland got 11 of the 18 outs by ground out -- but the third inning may have been the best. Kasey Getkin, the third baseman, made a nice play on a slow roller, nailing the Everett runner by a step for the first out of the inning. Then Strausser, the shortstop, went deep in the hole for a grounder and got a great scoop from first baseman Megan Dennen for the second out.
Danville added two more runs in the fourth to put the game out of reach. Strausser and Getkin had back-to-back singles to open the inning. Yacko then singled home a run. After two outs, Burkland singled home Getkin for an 8-0 lead.
Everett scored its only run in the bottom of the fifth. After Rice's single in the fifth and an error, with two outs Aarica Price singled home Everett's lone run, before a ground out ended the inning.
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10-11 Softball: Danville pulls away from Everett
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