When the term "winning ugly" was coined, a game like the 17-13 Pequea Valley softball team's victory over Cocalico was molded as an example.
On Friday, April 23, the Braves defeated the Eagles, in extra innings no less, by that margin. The Braves scored seven runs early; the Eagles tied it with seven in the fourth inning.
"We scored three in the sixth and so did they," Pequea head coach Doug High recalled. "We scored seven in the eighth and they scored three. We won 17-13."
What was remarkable about this victory was Olivia Ammon recording 20 strikeouts for the Braves, who improved their record to 7-3 on the year.
"She set the school's single-game record for strikeouts," High pointed out, going on to note the former record holder very familiar to him. "My daughter, Jessica High, had 19 in a game against Lampeter-Strasburg in 2008. I remember L-S won that game 2-1."
The Braves had 17 runs on 17 hits and committed four errors. The Eagles scored 13 on nine hits and five walks while committing five errors.
"On defense, we only recorded four putouts," High pointed out. Indeed, with Ammon setting down 20 batters on strikes in an eight-inning game, her teammates only needed to get four more outs.
Olivia Clark went 3-for-5 with a double and a triple. Abby Tobelmann had four runs scored, crushing a home run, drawing two walks, and stealing two bases. Emily Ammon had two base hits - a home run and a double - knocking in three runs. She also swiped two bags. And Hailey Yothers had two hits and three RBIs.
The Braves improved to 7-2 in the Lancaster-Lebanon League (8-3 overall) with a 10-0 shutout of Elco on Wednesday. Ammon had 10 strikeouts while pitching a two-hit shutout.
"She was able to move the ball around and hit her spots," High said. "She had good velocity."
Offensively, seven of the Braves starters had base hits, totaling 14 on the day.
"It was one of those team efforts," said High.
Olivia Ammon helped her cause with a 3-for-3 day at the plate, including a triple and three RBI's.
Yothers was 2-for-4 with one RBI. Tobelmann (3-for-4) also drove in a run. Liv Clark drove in two runs on three hits - a double and two singles. Madison Clark also had two hits.
With their 8-3 mark, the Braves moved up to third in the District Three Class 3A power rankings.
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