Heights Steals Playoff Win from Panthers

Haddon Heights High School's Garnets scored their first run Tuesday afternoon on a play that could have—and probably should have—seen interference called on one of the team’s base runners.

Garnets' second run came thanks to a bases-loaded walk.

And their 10th came while stealing home plate, after a wild pitch from Collingswood starter Stephanie Williams in the bottom of the fifth.

It abruptly ended the Collingswood Panthers’ extremely short postseason run, with a 10-0 victory.

“I was actually really confident coming into this one,” said junior first-baseman Stephanie Fultano, a likely selection for All-Conference this season. “I thought we could compete with this team. We have competed with them in the past, but, as always, it’s just the little stuff that gets us in the end.”

As usual, defense proved to hurt Panthers Tuesday. Williams allowed all 10 runs, while surrendering 11 hits and walking eight batters in the process. The first inning alone saw five hits, five runs and two walks, leaving the Panthers with an early deficit they simply couldn't recover from.

In addition to the Panthers’ struggles in the field, the team didn’t offer much at the plate, recording just four hits in five innings played.

In the second inning, first-baseman Fultano led off with a double, and in the third, junior shortstop Taylor Harkness provided a single.

The team was provided with a single from junior second-baseman Erika Witherbee in the fourth, and a double from junior centerfielder Nicole Hall in the fifth. But the four hits provided no runs, leaving Panthers with nothing to show for their efforts.

“The big people in our lineup didn’t hit today; myself included,” said Fultano, whose 1-3 performance included two strikeouts. “I was really disappointed that I struck-out today, and sometimes, this team ends up bringing what happens at the plate when we go into the field. We can’t do that.”

In spite of their postseason being cut short, Panthers had two regular season games remaining, by way of rain-outs and postponements. On Wednesday, they traveled to Moorestown, and on Friday, they'll play at West Deptford, taking on the Eagles.

“We’ve just got to figure out what we’re doing wrong,” said Fultano. “We need to finish out the season hard. The playoffs are over, so now our goal is to finish the season with seven wins.”