Team wins state tournament opener

          Winning the school's first district title evoked a small show of emotion from Upper Perkiomen's softball team. However, the players remained typically stoic following Monday's 3-0 victory over East Pennsboro in the PIAA Class 4A playoffs.

          "We're just happy to still be playing," junior Taylor Lindsay said.

          Winning a state title might solicit a less tempered response, according third baseman Karlee Fretz. Meanwhile, Fretz said the Indians (22-3) will rely on their collective calm to extend their season. The team will take on Bangor in the quarterfinal round at 11 a.m. Thursday at a site and time to be determined.

          "This feels great," Fretz said, adding that everyone is school is talking about the post-season run. "It's good to be recognized."

According to Fretz, Upper Perkiomen utilized its relative calm to post consecutive playoff victories at Methacton High School. She said the games have become more intense.

          "We know we need to win," said Fretz, who finished the state tournament game with two hits.

          On Monday, Lindsay tossed seven shutout innings to earn the mound victory. She scattered four hits, and worked out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the first inning against the Panthers, the No. 3 seed from District Three. After allowing a single and two hits, the pitcher fell behind McKayla Danner 2-0. However, Lindsay induced an infield popup to end the threat.

          The Indians scored the decisive run in the second inning without a hit. Olivia Young walked, took second on a wild pitch, third on a sacrifice and scored on another wild pitch.

          They added two more runs in the fifth inning off East Pennsboro pitcher Cailey Joyce. A walk and consecutive single loaded the bases with no outs. Morgan Lindsay scored from third on a fly ball to deep left field, off the bat of Alyssa Sullivan, which was misplayed. Alexa Banner's bases-loaded walk forced home Taylor Lindsay, who finished with three hits.

          "This feels pretty good," head coach Dean Sullivan said. "I wasn't expecting a whole lot of offense, since we were facing a pretty good pitcher."

          On Wednesday, May 31, Morgan Lindsay smacked a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning to power the Indians to a 4-1 victory over Villa Maria Academy in the District One Class 4A softball title game. Taylor Lindsay allowed just three hits and struck out 10. 

          "This is an awesome accomplishment," Dean Sullivan said after the victory. "It hasn't hit me yet."  Morgan Lindsay's two-run shot on a 3-2 fastball off Alyssa Viscardo snapped a 1-1 tie for Upper Perkiomen. 

          The pitch was supposed to be a drop, according to Hurricanes head coach Nicki Hartshorn.  "It was an awesome feeling," said Morgan Lindsay, a freshman catcher.

          "Upper Perkiomen better win a state championship," Hartshorn said. "That's the only thing that is going to make me feel better."

          Villa Maria Academy went ahead 1-0 in the second inning on a second-inning home run by Lisa Becker. 

          After squandering scoring opportunities in the initial three innings, the top-seeded Indians forged a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly by Olivia Young. They took the lead four good in the fourth on Morgan Lindsay's one-out homer to left field, which scored Sarah Heidler.

          Emily Moll's slap single to left field in the sixth inning drove home Alyssa Sullivan, who posted two hits, to cap the scoring.

          Taylor Lindsay retired 14 consecutive hitters before allowing a single to open the seventh inning. However, she retired the next three Hurricanes hitters to clinch the title.