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First Posted: 6/25/2013

DURYEA — Champions perform best on the biggest stage.

In the District 16 major softball final on Tuesday night, Duryea/Pittston Township played like champions.

Lauren Cawley pitched a no-hitter and Duryea/Pittston Township scored 12 runs to finish off Nanticoke Storm 12-0 in four innings at Duryea Field.

“I can’t say enough about them,” Duryea/Pittston Township coach Brian Cawley said. “They performed great tonight and they’re a good group of girls.”

Duryea/Pittston Township jumped out of the gates early, scoring four runs in the top of the first. Isabella Gorzkowski and Kerry Shamnoski each hit into fielder’s choices to give Duryea/Pittston Township an early advantage. Morgan Mesaris added to the lead with an RBI single.

In the bottom of the first, Cawley shut down the Storm, retiring three straight batters.

Angelica Singer fueled the Duryea/Pittston Township four-run second inning with an RBI double.

Lauren Cawley returned to the circle in the bottom of the second and recorded her only blemish of the game, ceding a walk to Stephanie Layland. Despite the baserunner, Lauren Cawley quickly recovered and got the final out of the inning.

“She’s been pitching hard all year,” Brian Cawley said. “She’s just a gamer and tonight showed it.”

In the top of the third, Gorzkowski batted in two runs on a single to help give Duryea/Pittston Township its third straight four-run inning.

Lauren Cawley continued to pitch well in the bottom of the third, striking out two while the defense took care of the third out.

“I’ve got to give credit to the defense too because they supported her big time,” Brian Cawley said. “They made great plays in the field and she couldn’t have done it without the fielders behind her.”

Nanticoke’s Brinley Sobeck shut down Duryea/Pittston Township in the top of the fourth, striking out two, to give the Storm an opportunity to get back in the game.

After two errors, Nanticoke threatened in the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs, but Cawley remained composed and struck out her third batter of the inning and her eighth of the game to secure her no-hitter and give Duryea/Pittston Township the District 16 title.

Duryea/Pittston Twp.`444`0`—`12

Nanticoke`000`0`—`0

WP: Lauren Cawley, 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K; LP: Lindsey Rowles, 1.2 IP, 4 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 6 BB, 1 K; Brinley Sobeck 2.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

Top Hitters: DUR – Angelica Singer 2-2, double, 3 RBI, 2 runs; Isabella Gorzkowski 1-2, 3 RBI, 1 run; Kerry Shamnoski 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 run; Morgan Mesaris 1-2, 1 RBI