By JAKE ROBINSON
The Conestoga women’s fastball team hosted a doubleheader against the defending champions Durham Lords on Oct. 1.
Despite being defeated 11-0 in the first game, the Condors didn’t quit and played five hard innings of baseball.
Brooke Brenneman pitched a strong game for Conestoga allowing only four earned runs. She struck out four batters and walked one. She also went 1-2 at the plate as she drove a base hit through the infield.
Brenneman was backed up by fine defensive plays from Brandy Hillar and Chelsea Patrizio.
“Our first game kind of got away from us,” said Hillar, who is in her second year of interior decorating. “We had one bad inning and that’s kind of where it went.”
The Condors got off to a strong start in the second game as Patrizio hit a lead-off double to the opposite field. Hillar followed with a single, which advanced Patrizio to third; Hillar then stole second. However, both base runners were left stranded.
Pitcher Magg Calvert had a good first inning as well as she got her first of three strikeouts in the game.
Durham answered Conestoga’s strong start in the second inning as they hit a few singles to give themselves a 3-0 lead. However, Durham’s rally was cut short as Patrizio threw a long outfield assist to get the final out at home.
Conestoga played great fundamental baseball in the fourth. After Katelyn Tilley reached base with a lead-off single, Emma Budziarek laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance Tilley into scoring position with only one away.
After the Condors were unable to capitalize, Durham replied in the bottom half of the inning with one more run.
The Condors rallied in the sixth but fell short as they squandered their bases-loaded opportunity.
Durham added one more run to give themselves a 5-0 victory.
Conestoga had some key performances from Patrizio who batted 2-4 with two doubles and Tilley who went 2-3.
“The girls were a little nervous in the first game, once we got them settled down I think they were fine,” said coach Rick Proud. “They came out and played a much better game in the second game. As long as we can keep them settled and under control we should be fine for the rest of the season.”
Conestoga’s next game will be on Oct. 12 against Seneca.
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