Daniel Boone reaches District 3-AAAA softball quarterfinals

May 21--Savannah Toth and her Daniel Boone teammates couldn't wait to get back on the field.

After suffering their first loss of the season last week in the Berks Softball League championship game, the Blazers had to wait five days to get a chance to redeem themselves.

"It just gave us more motivation," Toth said. "We just know we can stick with anyone."

Toth had two hits that led to a pair of runs Tuesday at Muhlenberg to help top-seeded Daniel Boone open the District 3-AAAA playoffs with a 3-1 win over 16th-seeded Central Dauphin East.

Toth hit a leadoff double in the second inning and opened the fourth with a single.

Courtesy runners scored each time to give winning pitcher Bekah Slattery all the support she needed.

Slattery struck out 14 and limited the Panthers (11-10) to a run on seven hits.

"We like coming to districts because for us we always play like it could be our last game so we put everything out on the field," Slattery said.

The victory advances the Blazers (22-1), last year's 3-AAAA runner-up, to the quarterfinals Thursday to face No. 8 seed Cumberland Valley, site and time to be announced. Cumberland Valley defeated No. 9 Warwick 7-6 in nine innings.

"The first round of districts there are 16 teams left and everybody puts their heart and soul into it to do whatever it takes to get the job done," Daniel Boone coach Traci Huddleson said.

Daniel Boone was the only one of five Berks teams to win its District 3 opener. And it wasn't easy.

The Blazers had four runners thrown out on the bases, including two at home, as the Panthers stayed close.

"We put the pressure on them and they came through and made some great plays," Huddleson said.

The Blazers went ahead to stay in the third inning on a double by Alyssa Garner and a two-out RBI single by Megan Piccarreta.

But Central Dauphin East kept it interesting by getting at least one runner on in every inning after the first.

The Panthers had the potential tying runs on in the top of the seventh before Slattery ended the game with her 14th strikeout.

"Our mojo was a little off but we came though," Slattery said. "It was good for us."

Toth doubled in the second, and Gabby Willman grounded out. Maggie Koch put down a suicide squeeze bunt to bring in courtesy runner Jenna Piccarreta from third.

The Falcons answered in the third when Marissa Butts hit a triple to right field and continued home on a throwing error.

Butts, cleanup hitter Jayla Allen and Antonice Mason had two hits each for the Falcons.

But every time Central Dauphin East mounted a threat, Slattery turned back the challenge.

"They're a great hitting team and Bekah kept them off balance," Huddleson said.

Daniel Boone tacked on an insurance run in the fourth.

After Toth singled, courtesy runner Kamryn Guinta stole second and scored when Koch reached on an infield throwing error.

Koch later was thrown out at home trying to score on a bunt by Cara Shackleford.

The Blazers had another runner thrown out at the plate in the sixth when Guinta tried to score from first on a double by Koch.

It made the outcome much closer than expected.

"They're here, we're here, we're here for a reason," Toth said. "All teams are going to be good."

The Blazers finished with six hits off losing pitcher Alyssia Brown.

Toth went 2-for-2 and Koch went 2-for-3 as the Blazers rebounded from last Wednesday's 2-0 loss to Brandywine Heights in the Berks championship game.

Megan Piccarreta went 1-for-1 with a single, was hit by a pitch and put down a sacrifice bunt.

Contact Brian Rippey: 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.

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