Bald Eagle softball defeats Deer Lakes in PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals
A youthful Bald Eagle squad took the field at Saint Francis University once again on Thursday evening, but this time it was in the PIAA Class 3A softball quarterfinals.
Deer Lakes stood in their way — a 16-8 squad that finished second in the WPIAL. Despite the Lady Lancers notching five hits against the unflappable first-year Bald Eagle pitcher Sierra Albright, the Lady Eagles won 3-0 and advanced to the state semifinals.
Albright had another strong performance, carving through batters in seven innings pitched, allowing zero runs on five hits and striking out nine batters.
“It’s a lot more comfortable,” Albright said of the 3-0 lead that her team spotted her. “So, I don’t have to be perfect every time. I don’t feel that way because we have a really good defense behind me, but it makes me feel a little bit better about that.”
Far behind Albright in center field is another first-year starter — Taylor Habovick. Habovick went 2-for-3 on the day, capitalizing on a two-out opportunity to drive in two runners on a single in the second inning.
“It felt really good,” Habovick said. “It feels really good anytime that you do something like that, especially as a freshman. It’s awesome to have us (Kailey Eckert, Albright and Habovick) up the middle.”
Coach Don Lucas chimed in on the play of his first-year players and what it meant to encourage them:
“(She’s) the No. 9 hitter, who was struggling a little bit,” Lucas said. “She’s out there because of her defensive prowess, but lately she’s been coming through. She just had two hits tonight. She had that hit that drove in two runs and had that bunt. Holy cow. And then Albright — she just is steady.”
Then, there’s the senior shortstop Maddie Perry. Perry went 2-for-4 from the dish, driving in a run on a single in the third inning and scoring on Habovick’s single in the second. She credits her team’s ability to stay calm at the plate to Lucas’ teachings.
“Coach (Lucas) always tells that insurance runs help and they let Sierra (Albright) relax on the mound and they let everyone relax defensively,” Perry said. “Even at the plate, we’re more aggressive when there’s no pressure, obviously, as anyone would be. Getting that extra run just let us relax a little bit and Sierra got it done.”
Bald Eagle’s Marina Shawley drew a walk to lead off the inning and was replaced on the base paths by Kendra Uberti. Perry’s single pushed Uberti to third and later allowed Habovick to drive both runners in on a two-out double. The Lady Eagles had a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the second inning.
Ava Stere set the table for the Lady Eagles with a leadoff single in the third inning. With a hit-and-run in place with Stere moving to second base before the pitch, Perry blasted a single to score her and give the team a 3-0 lead, which they’d hold for the rest of the game.
Bald Eagle will take on Avonworth in the PIAA Class 3A softball semifinals on Monday.
This story was originally published June 9, 2022 at 9:03 PM.
