OJR softball downs North Penn; one win from states

POTTSTOWN -- Squatting behind home plate for seven sticky innings on Tuesday, Megan Moore's goal was to help guide pitcher Taylor Shultz through the North Penn lineup.

Standing at the plate, she guided pitches all over the field at Owen J. Roberts High School. The junior catcher and cleanup hitter starred in the Wildcats' win-or-go-home, 8-1 victory over North Penn.

By dispatching the Maidens in the first of two playback games, OJR kept alive the hope of reaching the Pennsylvania state playoffs for the third time in four years. Only Souderton -- a 10-5 winner over Downingtown West in the other playback game -- stands in their way of earning the fifth seed in the state tournament.

"We were coming out for blood today," said Shultz, who fired a complete-game three-hitter, allowing one unearned run. "We definitely needed that win after last week's game. It was nice to see us hit so well."

Last week, the Wildcats were three-hit by Neshaminy's Lauren Quense, ending their run at a PIAA District One, Class AAAA title, and sending them into the consolation round. North Penn became their opponent by losing, 1-0 to Pennsbury.

The Wildcats (19-5) jumped on North Penn starter Kellianna Bradstreet for three runs in the first. Shultz walked leading off and was sacrificed to second, and Lexi Vaszily walked as Bradstreet was trying to be extra careful.

She was careless to Moore, who stroked a two-run triple, then scored the third run on a wild pitch.

"It was big for Megan to come up with that big hit," OJR head coach Kevin Kirby said. "If people want to walk Lexi -- she's been red hot -- they have to realize that Megan is just as good. I'm glad I don't have to pick which one I want to pitch to."

In the second inning, a two-out double by Taylor Kelly prompted new pitcher Vicky Tumasz to pitch around Vaszily, leading to another walk. Moore drove in her third run with a single.

"She's the home run hitter," Moore said of Vaszily, who holds the school record in homers. "I just follow her. Those are big shoes to fill, but we have a good team. Everybody in the whole lineup can hit."

Everyone did, as the team rapped out 12 hits and struck out just once as a team.

Moore had four of those hits, adding a double and a single in her next two at-bats, respectively. Eight of the nine starters reached base at least one time.

Shultz added two hits, or one fewer than she gave up. She walked three and struck out three.

"My drop curve wasn't there today, so I went to my screwball today," Shultz said. "Luckily, that was working."

Added Kirby: "They did a great job. They're great players. Not only did they do well defensively, but they were our two best hitters. That's what you expect out of them."

They'll need to play well again Thursday to quiet Souderton's offense. The game will either be at home for the Wildcats, -- since OJR is the higher remaining seed -- or at a neutral site, likely Spring-Ford.

The location and opponent doesn't matter to Kirby.

"We have one game for all the marbles," he said. "It's a great opportunity, and we have to come out and make the most of it. We have to play our best to advance."