Frazier wraps up section title with win over Lady Mikes
Rob Burchianti | Herald-Standard
Frazier’s Rylee Evans, left, is greeted at home plate by her teammates after hitting a home run against Carmichaels in the fifth inning of Tuesday’s game at Commodore Park. Evans was 3-for-3 with three RBI in the Commodores’ 11-2 win.
Rob Burchianti | Herald-Standard
Rob Burchianti | Herald-Standard
Frazier pitcher Nicole Palmer goes into her windup during Tuesday’s game against Carmichaels at Commodore Park. Palmer was the winning pitcher in the Lady Commodores’ 11-2 win.
Rob Burchianti | Herald-Standard
Frazier third baseman Delaney Warnick fields a ground ball before throwing to first base for the out in the fifth inning of Tuesday’s game against Carmichaels at Commodore Park.
PERRYOPOLIS – Winning a section title isn’t always an important factor when it comes to the postseason.
Frazier’s 2019 softball team proved that when the Commodores finished second in Section 3-AA and went on to win a PIAA championship.
Even so, Frazier coach Don Hartman was pleased to know his team will be able to tack up another section title banner along the outfield fence at Commodore Park after the Commodores hammered Carmichaels, 11-2, Tuesday.
Frazier improves to 14-3 overall and 11-0 in the section to clinch sole possession of first place. The Mikes, who needed a win to keep alive their hopes of earning at least a share of the section crown, fall to 10-6 and 7-2.
“I’m really happy and proud of these girls,” said Hartman, who lost a slew of talented players from a 2020 team that never got on the field due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “For having a brand new team this year, they really lived up to the softball tradition we have here. They made their mark today. They’ll forever have a sign hanging on there on the outfield fence.”
Frazier pounded out 14 hits, including three home runs, after falling behind 2-0 in the first inning.
Rylee Evans was 3-for-3 with a solo home run, a sacrifice fly and three RBI, and Delaney Warnick also went 3-for-3 with a three-run homer in driving in four runs for the Commodores.
Maria Felsher homered, singled and had two RBI, and Abby Scott also contributed two hits and two RBI as Frazier won its 10th in a row, counting a forfeit win over Washington.
Not bad for a team Hartman had some uncertainty about in the preseason.
“Three months ago I wasn’t really sure what we had,” Hartman said. “These girls had to get to know each other and come up with their own chemistry. I knew I had good ballplayers but I just didn’t know if they would come together and be a good team. They have definitely done that.”
Carmichaels jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Kendall Ellsworth and Emma Holaren both hit one-out singles and came around to score as Frazier committed a pair of infield errors.
“We know what we’re going to get when we play Carmichaels,” Hartman said. “They’re a fabulously coached team and they have a long storied tradition there. We knew they were going to play hard and came at us.”
Commodores starting pitcher Nicole Palmer settled down after the bumpy beginning and blanked the Mikes the rest of the way. Palmer allowed five hits and one walk, while striking out 11.
Frazier pulled even in the bottom of the second when Evans and Warnick both singled and came around to score on Scott’s two-run single to center.
The Commodores went ahead to stay with two runs in the third. Madison Bednar led off with an infield single, stole second, went to third on Victoria Washinski’s single to left and scored on Evans’ sacrifice fly to deep center. Warnick followed with an RBI single to left.
Carmichaels was playing its first game since April 28 because of a COVID shutdown and several rainouts, and coach Dave Briggs felt his team was still rusty from the long layoff.
“The two weeks off really hurt us,” said Briggs, whose squad had already clinched a playoff spot. “But, my girls battled. I’m proud of them. We did good things at times but we just didn’t do enough at the plate to put pressure on them after the first inning.
“We did get off to a good start, but Frazier battled back like a good team will do. Frazier hit the ball well. At the end it got a little out of hand.”
Evans lined a solo home run to center in the fifth and Warnick scored when she walked, stole second and came home on Felsher’s single to put Frazier ahead 6-2.
The Commodores blew the game open with a five-run sixth.
Jensyn Hartman started rally with a walk, Bednar reached on an error and an out later Evans drilled an RBI single to center. Warnick followed with a three-run smash to left field and Felsher made it back-to-back homers with a drive over the centerfield fence to cap the scoring.
Losing pitcher Emma Holaren walked five and struck out two in going the distance. Ellsworth had two of Carmichaels’ five hits, including a double. Mia Ranieri and Emma Hyatt each had a single for the Mikes.