Softball: Northern Lebanon Closes Regular Season with Win Over Playoff-Bound Annville-Cleona

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Northern Lebanon Closes Regular Season with Win Over Playoff-Bound Annville-Cleona

On Tuesday, the Section 3 Champions wrapped up their regular season at home, as Northern Lebanon used an early jump and a steady outing in the circle from Addison Hollenbach to defeat Annville-Cleona 7-2.

The Vikings wasted little time taking control, scoring three runs in the 1st inning. Stephanie Palkovic grounded out to bring home the first run, Alyssa Shirey followed with an RBI single to center field, and Sophia Roye added another run-scoring groundout to give Northern Lebanon the early cushion.

Annville-Cleona kept battling and eventually broke through in the 6th, taking advantage of a pair of Northern Lebanon errors while Zoe Miller drove in both Dutchmen runs. Breelyn Pulaski and Nia Hafey scored in the inning, cutting into the deficit before the Vikings answered in the bottom half.

Northern Lebanon responded with three runs in the 6th to put the game away. Hollenbach helped her own cause with a double, while Ryleigh Hopkins, Addison Kubica, Keira Palski, Makenzie West, and Roye were also part of a Viking offense that finished with ten hits.

In the circle, Hollenbach went the distance for Northern Lebanon, allowing five hits and two unearned runs over seven innings while striking out seven and walking two. She also went 2-4 with a double and two RBI, while Palkovic drove in two runs and West and Kubica each finished with two hits.

For Annville-Cleona, Miller led the middle of the lineup by going 1-3 with two RBI. Temperance Brubaker, Summer Light, Pulaski, and Peyton Elder each added a hit for the Dutchmen, who also turned one double play defensively. In the circle, Brubaker allowed ten hits and seven runs, three earned, over six innings while striking out three and walking two.

Northern Lebanon (17-3) will now begin its postseason journey, which starts Friday with the 1st round of the Lancaster-Lebanon League Playoffs.

Annville-Cleona (8-9) still has two regular season games remaining, but the Dutchmen have also qualified for the LL Playoffs as the 2nd-place team in Section 4. They will travel Friday to face Solanco, the Section 2 Champion.

Northern Lebanon 7, Annville-Cleona 2

Northern Lebanon Leaders

Addison Hollenbach: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, 2B
Makenzie West: 2-3, R
Addison Kubica: 2-4, R
Keira Palski: 2-3
Ryleigh Hopkins: 1-1, 2 R
Alyssa Shirey: 1-3, RBI
Stephanie Palkovic: 0-3, 2 RBI, SF
Sophia Roye: 1-3, RBI

Pitching
Addison Hollenbach (W): 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K

Annville-Cleona Leaders

Zoe Miller: 1-3, 2 RBI
Temperance Brubaker: 1-4
Summer Light: 1-4
Breelyn Pulaski: 1-3, R
Peyton Elder: 1-4
Nia Hafey: R

Pitching
Temperance Brubaker: 6.0 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K