GUILFORD—Emma Alley made the most of her first varsity pitching appearance. Alley allowed one unearned run in leading the Stearns softball team to a 2-1 victory over Piscataquis Community High School (PCHS) on Friday afternoon. Alley allowed seven hits and didn’t issue a walk, while striking out four. She only got to a three ball count on two hitters.
“This is actually her (Alley) first ever varsity start. She did a fantastic job,”Stearns coach Nick Cullen said. “She did what we wanted our pitchers to do. Pitch strikes and pitch to contact and hopefully the defense can make plays. We made just enough to get us by tonight.”
PCHS took a lead when they took advantage of an error to take a quick lead in the first inning. Rachel Beckwith hit a single that scored Alivia Hunt.
Stearns responded quickly when Abby Russell led off the second inning with a walk. Grace Farrington and Bekah Glidden followed with hits, while Renee Pelletier hit a grounder that scored a run.
The freshmen Glidden was the only Stearns player with two hits. She hit seventh in the lineup. If Glidden keeps swinging a hot bat, she could end up higher in the order.
“She (Glidden) is doing a fantastic job. She is a freshman so she is a little nervous,”Cullen said. “We are hoping to move her up in the order a little bit.”
A freshman also had a big day with the bat for the Pirates. Olivia Riitano drilled three hits, including a double to lead off the fifth inning, and a single to lead off the seventh inning. Alley retired the next three batters each time. Alley struck out the final batter of the game, leaving the potential tying run at second base.
Macee Pearl had two hits for the Pirates. PCHS (1-2) will host Schenck on Monday. Stearns (2-1) will travel to Penquis on Monday.
