WAYNESBORO – The James Buchanan Rockets had a little to much rocket power for the Waynesboro Maidens to match on Wednesday at Maiden Field.
They started their Mid-Penn Colonial Division varsity softball game with a bang. Lilianna Wiley smacked a two-run home run, and Brooklyn Sanchez followed with a solo round-tripper in the first inning. Audrey Dickson belted another solo homer during the top of the second inning, but the Maidens couldn’t put together a scoring run to counter the visitors during a 9-4 loss.
It almost looked like the game could turn into a slugfest when Waynesboro’s Riley Shetler hit a lead-off home run in the bottom of the first. Emma Bradley walked, stole second base and scored on a single by Haley Reynolds. Wiley, who was 4-for-4 at the plate and also the starting pitcher, struck out two of the next three batters to get out of the inning with James Buchanan holding on to a 3-2 lead.
Wiley went on to strike out nine batters, while the Rockets piled up 13 hits and five more runs. They batted around in the top of the fourth frame, scoring three more runs on three hits and three walks.
By the time Waynesboro scored its fourth and final run, the Rockets led 9-3, thanks to a two-run sixth inning – compliments of a two-run home run by Sanchez, her second of the game.
*We gotta show up and play ball,” said Waynesboro head coach Troy Witte, whose team slipped to 6-11 on the season with three games to play in the regular season, all on the road. “We didn’t hit, and we didn’t capitalize on the mistakes they made. We had plenty of opportunities.
“We just didn’t hit today. It’s frustrating, but we’ll get through it. We still have games to play.”
Next up for the Maidens is a non-league game at East Pennsboro on Friday. On Monday, Waynesboro faces Shippensburg, and the season finale is Tuesday at Chambersburg.
