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RENITA FENNICK [email protected]
Thursday, July 27, 2000 Page: 31
The Turkey Hill team came back on Saturday.
Back from a 1-11 mark in the regular season. Back from a five-run deficit
in the bottom of the sixth. Back from four scoreless innings.
The young team, managed by Sandy Ancas, came back to end its season in
style Saturday, with a 9-7 victory over Shelley’s Pizza to win the post-season
tournament championship in the Wilkes-Barre Girls Softball League senior
division.
All seven teams compete in the tournament. Turkey Hill, which concluded the
season at the bottom of the standings, advanced on a bye and a forfeit to
enter the championship game.
A best-of-three series for the overall championship was played this week
between Wilkes-Barre Firefighters, winner of the south division title, and
north division champion Oscar Smith Co.
With the help of Katie Guesto’s two-run single to left in the bottom of the
sixth and a smooth mound performance by Sara Ancas in the top of the seventh,
Turkey Hill came from behind to notch the win.
Shelley’s, comprised of players from the Edwardsville-Larksville area, took
a 7-2 lead into the sixth inning.
Losing pitcher Amanda Faust walked lead-off batter Heather O’Brien, yielded
a single to Keating and walked Carla Iseman to load the bases. Lauren
Trinisewiski ripped a double to left field, scoring O’Brien and Keating to set
the score at 7-4.
With one down, Thelred Gagliardi drew a walk to load the bases and Faust
whiffed Ancas, her mound opponent.
An interference by the Shelley’s catcher allowed Iseman to score as Turkey
Hill cut the lead to 7-5. Trinisewski scored on a passed ball to bring Turkey
Hill within a run.
Amanda Lewis walked to load the bags, setting the stage for Guesto’s hit.
The lefty sent a 3-2 pitch to left field, scoring the tying (Gagliardi) and
winning (Pacovsky) runs.
“I was really nervous,” Guesto said after the game. “I thought I could do
it, I was hoping I could.”
Faust walked Ali Ostrum to reload the bags and delivered another walk, her
sixth that inning, to O’Brien, allowing Lewis to score an insurance (9-7) run.
With the top of the order heading to the plate in the top of the seventh,
Ancas knew what she had to do.
“I was nervous but I knew we could do it,” Ancas said. “When I get rally
nervous, I do better. I do better with the pressure.”
Ancas walked the first batter and the second popped up to left field. Her
teammates backed her up on the next play as O’Brien caught a fly ball at third
and threw it to first baseman Trinisewski who completed the double play.
Shelley’s, which finished 6-6 on the year, was a young team that came a
long way since the start of the season, manager Ed Zupko said.
“We jelled at the right time, at the end of the season which put us into
the championship game of the tournament. They did their best.”
Shelley’s wasted no time scoring, putting three on the board in the opening
stanza on singles by Keating and Erica Faust.
Turkey Hill scored two in the bottom of the first, sparked by a Keating’s
single and Bolesta’s double.
Amanda Faust kept Turkey Hill scoreless for the next four innings while her
Shelley’s Pizza teammates gradually built up a 7-2 lead.
Ancas went the distance, giving up 11 hits while striking out two and
walking six.
The Turkey Hill offense was led by Bolesta with two hits including a
double, Keating with two singles, Trinisewski’ double and Guesto’s single.
Amanda Faust hurled a six-hitter, walked 10 and struck out four.