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PINE GROVE — North Schuylkill moved into first place in Schuylkill League Division I as they took down Pine Grove for the second time this season, 2-0.
Brigid Flynn didn’t allow a run on the mound and Gianna Capone and Olivia Jones added difference-making RBI’s.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better team and group of girls,” said North Schuylkill’s head coach Jack Flynn. “We have been talking about this game for weeks. We are probably going to face them again in the Schuylkill League Championship if we are lucky enough to get there.”
Both teams were quiet through three innings as great defense and pitching displayed.
North Schuylkill (12-2,9-1) struck first in the top of the fourth inning. After a Jordanna Frie groundout, Mallorie Croker reached base on a walk. Olivia Jones laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Croker to second. Gianna Capone came up with two outs and delivered as she smoked a ball into left field to put the Lady Spartans up 1-0.
SEE FULL PHOTO GALLERY: North Schuylkill softball defeats Pine Grove 2-0
“It was just my confidence level,” said Capone. “I just had confidence in driving the ball and staying inside with it.”
Pine Grove (15-2,9-2) only recorded two hits in the game. Madison Shiffer hit a double in the first inning and Lily Flynn hit a single in the bottom of the sixth.
Brigid Flynn shined on the mound as she calmed the Pine Grove bats. Flynn went seven strong innings and struck out five.
“I was throwing a lot of spin pitches and that really helped me,” said Brigid Flynn. “My defense behind me had my back.”
North Schuylkill tacked on a huge insurance run in the top of the sixth inning following an 18-minute rain delay. Lindsay Brouse reached first base on an error and was replaced by Peyton Miscannon who ran. Frie laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Miscannon to second base. Following a Croker groundout Jones came up big and hit an RBI single into right field to extend the Lady Spartans lead to 2-0.
“Our girls stepped up and did what they needed to do,” said Jack Flynn. “We got the runs that we needed.”
Pine Grove threatened in the bottom of the sixth. Lily Flynn started the inning off with a single into left field. Lily Flynn got to second base on a steal. Meadow Umbenhauer came up next and hit a line drive to Brigid Flynn. Flynn caught it and threw a laser back to second base to turn the double play. Brigid Flynn got Callee Leffler to popout to shortstop the next at bat to end the inning.
Jack Flynn was so proud of his daughter Brigid on the mound.
“Brigid did a phenomenal job again,” said Flynn. “This might have been the best game she has thrown in her career.”
The Lady Spartans got a runner on in the top of the seventh inning thanks to a Lyza Holmes leadoff double. Holmes was moved to third after a sacrifice bunt. North Schuylkill couldn’t get a run in as Pine Grove forced a groundout and strikeout.
In the bottom of the seventh, Hannah Aungst got on base with a leadoff walk. Brigid Flynn stayed calm and came back and forced a popout and groundout. She closed the game out with a strikeout to secure the win for the Lady Spartans.
“This win feels amazing, it’s just great beating Pine Grove,” said Capone.
North Schuylkill 2 — Flynn P 4 0 0 0, Selgrade CF 4 0 0 0, Brouse C 3 0 0 0, Frie 1B 2 0 1 0, Croker 3B 2 1 1 0, Jones DP 2 0 1 1, Capone SS 3 0 1 1, Holmes LF 3 0 1 0, Monahan RF 1 0 0 0
NS (12-2, 9-1) — 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 — 2
PG (15-2, 9-2) — 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0
Pine Grove 0 — Leffler CF 3 0 0 0, Aungst SS 2 0 0 0, Shiffer 1B 3 0 1 0, Zimmerman RF 3 0 0 0, Dinger P 3 0 0 0, Clark P 2 0 0 0, Bohr C 2 0 0 0, Flynn 2B 2 0 1 0, Umbenhauer 3B 2 0 0 0
LOB — North Schuylkill 6, Pine Grove 2; 2B — Capone, Holmes
North Schuylkill
IP H R ER BB SO
Flynn 7 2 0 0 1 5
Pine Grove
Clark 4 3 1 1 2 1
Dinger 3 2 1 0 0 3
