BULLDOGS LEAVE LIBERTY IN THE DUST

The East Palestine softball team welcomed the Liberty Leopards to town looking to ride the momentum of a win the previous night. It may have taken longer than they desired but the Bulldogs used a 3-run 5th inning to overtake Liberty 8-4 in Unity on Wednesday.

Liberty at the onset looked primed for their second consecutive win as they struck early in the 1st inning behind a Mia Parker 2 RBI double putting the Leopards out in front. The Bulldogs would bite back in the bottom half Gia Brestelli doubled and would later score on a passed ball cutting the lead to 2-1.  Taylor Foster would then add an RBI single giving her squad the lead at 3-2.

The Leopards answered right away the next inning behind RBI singles from Ally Jones and Krysten Fine making the score 4-3. East Palestine pitcher Anna Yonker (7IP,11K,2H) would take over from the point.  The Freshman would limit Liberty hitters to just 2 hits the rest of the way giving the Bulldogs a chance late.  Yonker herself took full advantage in the bottom of the 5th coming through with an RBI single coupled with a fielding error giving the Bulldogs the late lead at 8-4.

Liberty pitcher Chloe Phleps (6IP,13K,6H), also just a Freshman, turned in a solid performance in defeat for the Leopards.

Liberty (1-3) heads home in search of redemption on Thursday as it faces GIrard. East Palestine (3-1) looks for its third straight win on Thursday hosting Western Reserve.

*Contributed By YSN’s Chris Sigler