COVINGTON TWP. — Like any well-tuned engine, it takes a good battery to start everything.
For its Lackawanna League Division I-II crossover game at North Pocono, Valley View’s All-Region battery of pitcher Gina Chieffallo and catcher Anna McElroy wasn’t exactly at its peak.
Bothered by a bug, Chieffallo was sick to her stomach just minutes before the game, and McElroy was mired in a 1 for 11 slump.
Whatever was ailing them, each found the cure Thursday. Chieffallo struck out 15 despite yielding an uncharacteristic six hits, and McElroy snapped out of her funk with a booming solo homer as the Cougars improved to 7-0 with a 4-1 win over a game North Pocono squad.
“I was worried about Gina but I knew she was going to fight back,” McElroy said. “Very i mpressive. She impresses me every time we play.”
What might have been most impressive was that after Chieffallo gave up an RBI double to Alex Thoman to make it 2-1 in the fourth, Chieffallo bore down to get nine of the final 10 outs via strikeout.
“I had to gear down and really focus on my fundamentals,” Chieffallo said. “I had my team behind me and they helped me out really well today, especially in the batter’s box.”
Blayse Cholish ripped three hits and knocked in Griffin Jones, who had two hits including an RBI single in the first, and the Cougars collected nine hits.
“Definitely it was one of our better-hitting games,” Cholish said. “Even though we’re not getting as many runs as we would like, we are definitely almost there.”
Valley View upped its lead to 3-1 on Lea Wojciechowski’s suicide squeeze to plate Cholish in the fifth, and McElroy launched a moon shot over the right-center field fence in the sixth.
“I did switch bats,” McElroy said. “I was in a funk for the past three games. I figured it can’t get any worse. I just needed more confidence and that definitely helped me.
“It’s half a mental game. You have to be confident and I haven’t been and that’s probably why I haven’t been hitting. I just went in there and said I have to do what I have to do for my team and it worked out.”
Even though North Pocono came up on the short end, head coach Michael LaFave took plenty of positives from the loss.
“Gina doesn’t give up hits, period, and she never gives up runs,” LaFave said. “So to score against her was nice.
“I was happy with what we did. I thought today we took a step, even though we lost, 4-1, and it doesn’t seem like that, I thought we took a good step. Our whole team was into it, we didn’t give away any at bats, which we’ve done in other games. We play like we did today, we’ve got a chance to string a few together.”
Thoman was impressive at the plate for the Lady Trojans, going 3 for 3 including a single she lined off the leftfield fence in the second. At Delaware Valley, Erin McNeely’s RBI single plated Nikki Cuccio in the eighth inning to give the Lady Warriors the win.
Cuccio, who finished 4 for 5, led off the eighth with a single, and with two outs, McNeely hit the game-winner. McNeely finished with three hits, including a double and a homer, and three RBIs and Alissa DePadua added three hits.
Kelsey Sarafinko and Dominique Emmett each finished with three hits and drove in a run for the Lady Comets. Scranton 14, Western Wayne 4
At Western Wayne, Corrin Devereaux had three hits, including a double, and three RBIs and Jessica Bobersky had two triples, scored twice and drove in two runs to lead Scranton.
Hannah Robinson had three hits, including two triples, and scored twice for Western Wayne.
At Wallenpaupack, Emily Winkler, Tori Ciszak and winning pitcher Brittany Guerrieri each had two hits as the Lady Buckhorns won in Division II. Natasha Hessling led the Lady Hornets with a double. At Riverside, Lacee Collins gave up just five singles and walked none, striking out seven to help the Lady Vikes to a Division III-IV crossover win.
Ashley Buffton singled and doubled for Riverside, and Lauren Grzyboski and Sam Wigley each added two hits. At St. Anthony’s Playg round, Erika Mackie allowed two hits and one run and struck out five as Holy Cross to picked up the Division III win.
Lauren Leppo drove in two for the Lady Crusaders. Rachel Chrzan tripled for Lakeland. Lakeland (2-5, 3-5) Holy Cross (4-3) At Carbondale, Chelsea Cadwalder had two doubles and drove in all three runs to lead Old Forge.
Kim Regan allowed two hits and one run and struck out four for the Lady Devils.
At Dunmore, Angela Kelly went 3 for 4 with a double and a triple and scored twice as the Lady Bucks defeated Mid Valley.
Winning pitcher Sarah Ross gave up three hits over seven innings, striking out eight and walking none. Scranton Prep 9, West Scranton 5
At Tripp Park, Gracie Jenkins had a double and a triple and three RBIs to lead Scranton Prep to a Division I win.
Olivia Burke had two hits, including a double, and two RBIs for the Classics. Maria Coyne had a double and two RBIs for West Scranton. At Blue Ridge, Anastasia Hester had a triple and three RBIs to lead Montrose to a Division IV win.