Published: May 16, 2008 12:16 am            

Mustangs halted in opener

PORTAGE — Error-free defense, good pitching and timely hitting.

Ninth-seeded Moshannon Valley got all three in a tightly contested District 6 Class A first-round playoff win against No. 8 Portage.

Taylor Murarik belted a three-run homer, southpaw Jaclyn Sinclair went the distance and the defense behind her was perfect, sending the Damsels past the Mustangs 3-0 on Thursday.

“We knew that they were a good ball team, that they had beaten Blacklick Valley, the No. 1 seed,” Damsels coach John Murarik said. “So we knew it was going to be a tough game.

“Taylor hit the ball really well, she waited nice and crushed it. One hit does it in the playoffs.”

Substitute Kristi Kephart (2-for-2) singled off Portage starter Brandi Chappell to right-center to start the fifth inning for Moshannon Valley (12-8). Sarah Gallo walked with one out, setting up Taylor Murarik’s shot over the left-center-field fence.

“We didn’t get the clutch hit and they did,” Mustangs coach Bryan Jubina said. “That’s what the ballgame is all about.”

Moshannon Valley will travel to Blacklick Valley on Monday for a second-round game. The top two teams in the district playoffs qualify for the state tournament.

Sinclair faced just 25 Portage batters and struck out only three Thursday. But the junior left-hander kept the Mustangs off balance, inducing 16 ground-outs.

“Jaclyn pitched an outstanding game,” Coach Murarik said. “She did a great job on the mound. Her pitches were working good. We had good defense.

“Jaclyn, she always keeps her composure. She’s always calm. I’ve never seen her excited, and that’s one of her attributes. She’s never rattled. That’s Jaclyn’s demeanor all the time, which is a benefit to her.”

Damsel shortstop Vanessa Rowley was the mainstay of the defense, assisting on nearly half of the grounders.

Jubina, whose teams have lost in the first round of district playoffs four of the past five seasons, thought not seeing a southpaw that often gave his batters fits.

“We were probably swinging at some balls, but she had good movement,” he said. “Her curveball’s going to be coming the other way, we don’t see that all the time.”

Portage stranded runners at second base twice, once in the second inning and once in the fourth, which was the last time the Mustangs threatened Sinclair, who picked up her first varsity playoff win.

Despite making the one mistake, Chappell scattered six hits, walked two and struck out four in seven innings.

Tanea Lehman had two hits for the Mustangs (9-5).

        

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