Tunkhannock’s lineup goes to new heights when Erin Van Ness is locked in at the plate, and the reigning first team all-state player looks like she is starting to lock in.
Van Ness drove in five runs, including three on a long home run to dead center field and two more on a triple as Tunkhannock (5-2, 4-1) defeated Wyoming Valley West 12-0 in five innings in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division I softball game on Thursday.
Van Ness had a huge smile as she jogged around the bases after her third inning home run, a swing she has been waiting for so far this season.
“It felt really good,” Van Ness said of hitting the home run. “I finally relaxed in the box and just swung at the ball and made contact. I think I’ve been pushing myself a little bit too much early, and finally relaxed to find some good results.”
Although the day will be remembered for the Tigers offense, a lot of pressure is taken off by having a pitcher like McKenzie Hannon in the circle. The junior continued her dominant start with a five-inning no hitter, striking out 10 and walking only two.
“I love knowing she’s going to be out there pitching every game for us,” Van Ness said of Hannon. “She’s my best friend and she’s great at what she does.”
Hannon started the scoring in the first for Tunkhannock with an RBI double, and then struck out the side in the second.
Tunkhannock would then put up four in the bottom of the third thanks to an RBI single from Emily Patton- who had three hits on the game- and Van Ness’s home run.
The offensive explosion came in the fourth when Tunkhannock put up seven courtesy of RBI triples from Patton and Van Ness, and a two-run pinch hit inside the park home run from Ava Milne to put the mercy rule in effect.
“We just have to continue to make our hitting stronger than it already is,” Van Ness said. “I really like how we’ve been playing lately and the direction we’re going.”
Tunkhannock Area 12, Wyoming Valley West 0
Tunkhannock Valley West
ab r h bi ab r h bi
Karp rf 3 1 0 0 Seip 1b 2 0 0 0
Kulsicavage cf 3 2 1 1 Ostroski lf 2 0 0 0
Hannon p 2 0 2 1 Hand cf 2 0 0 0
Patton ss 3 2 3 2 Austra c 2 0 0 0
Waterman 2b 2 2 0 0 Long 3b 2 0 0 0
Van Ness 3b 3 2 2 5 Yanalevitch p 1 0 0 0
Bevan c 2 0 1 0 Geffert ss 1 0 0 0
Kinney lf 2 0 0 0 Lynch ph 0 0 0 0
Milne ph 1 1 1 2 Yurko 2b 2 0 0 0
Bamberger 1b 2 1 1 0 Warman rf 1 0 0 0
Traver ph 1 0 0 0
Dana cr 0 1 0 0
Totals 24 12 11 11 Totals 15 0 0 0
2B: Hannon (TUN), Bevan (TUN); 3B: Patton (TUN), Van Ness (TUN); HR: Milne (TUN), Van Ness (TUN).
Valley West 000 00 - 0
Tunkhannock 104 7x - 12
Valley West IP H R ER BB SO
Yenalevitch 4 11 12 8 3 2
Tunkhannock IP H R ER BB SO
Hannon 5 0 0 0 2 10
Tunkhannock Area 16, Dallas 0
Emily Patton had two doubles and six RBIs, and Elaina Kulsicavage had two hits- including a triple and three RBIs as Tunkhannock topped Dallas 16-0 in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division I softball game on Wednesday, April 17.
For the Lady Tigers, Lucy Karp had three hits- including a double- and an RBI, and Addisyn Waterman had two hits, including a triple and two RBIs. Mackenzie Bevan also drove in two runs.
Tunkhannock Dallas
ab r h bi ab r h bi
Van Ness 3b 3 1 1 1 Eick 3b 2 0 0 0
Karp rf 3 3 3 1 Porasky 2b 0 0 0 0
Hannon p 2 0 1 1 Comitz 1b 1 0 0 0
Patton ss 3 2 2 6 Maier cf 1 0 0 0
Kulsicavage cf 3 2 3 3 Cruz ss 1 0 0 0
Waterman 2b 3 2 2 2 Fotsock dp 1 0 0 0
Bevan c 1 1 1 2 Riley c 1 0 0 0
Kinney lf 2 1 1 0 Atherholt rf 1 0 1 0
Bamberger 1b 1 2 1 0 Smacchi lf 1 0 1 0
Dana cr 0 2 0 0
Totals 21 16 15 15 Totals 9 0 2 0
2B: Patton (TUN) 2, Karp (TUN); 3B: Waterman (TUN); Kulsicavage (TUN).
Dallas 000 - 0
Tunkhannock 4(12)x - 16
Dallas IP H R ER BB SO
Berecin 1.2 10 10 10 1 0
Davidson .1 5 6 6 2 0
Tunkhannock IP H R ER BB SO
Hannon 3 2 0 0 1 7
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