SCRANTON — Lackawanna Trail used a combination of youth and experience to defeat Old Forge, 6-0, in the District 2 Class A softball championship game on Tuesday afternoon at Marywood University.
Freshman Samantha Baltrusaitis had two hits and drove in three runs, senior Breanna Halter had two hits, and sophomore pitcher Allison Decker allowed just four base runners during a complete game win.
“I just stayed focused and my team definitely helped me, I couldn’t have done it without them,” Decker said. “The win feels amazing, I wasn’t going to let it slip through my fingers.”
After the teams were scoreless through two innings, Lackawanna Trail struck for three runs in the bottom of the third. Halter singled up the middle for the Lady Lions first hit of the game and Mackenzie Duffy followed with a single before Madison Lee reached base on a error to score pinch-runner Laurelann Penn.
“You have to hand it to Trail, they came in prepared and made their plays,” Old Forge head coach Pat Revello said. “You can’t have an error in the (district) final, it will cost you. We got beat by a well-coached team and a good pitcher.”
The next batter, Baltrusaitis, drove in two runs with a triple to deep center field.
“She’s peaking at the right time,” Richter said. “The last three or four games, she’s really been on fire. She’s seeing the ball well and driving it hard.”
Old Forge had its best scoring chance in the top of the third. Alex Nocera reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to third base on a throwing error. She was stranded there when Denise Evans popped out to end the inning.
Decker walked a batter with two outs in the top of the fifth, but Hannah Acevedo grounded out to shortstop Madison Lee, who accounted for eight outs during the game.
“Allison pitched real well and the defense helped her out,” Richter said.
Lackawanna Trail added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Halter and Duffy each singled and advanced on a wild pitch. Lee drove in a run on a sacrifice fly and Baltrusaitis cracked a RBI single to center field, and came around to score when Karlee Cresswell reached base on an error.
“I was just thinking about getting a base hit and driving my teammates in,” Baltrusaitis said.
Lackawanna Trail will begin the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class A playoffs on Monday, June 6 against the District 4 champion.