Butler softball snares long-sought win
Tornado net 1st playoff victory in 14 seasons

By Mike Kilroy
Eagle Staff Writer

HAMPTON TWP — Angie Reddick was in the midst of her terrible twos the last time the Butler softball team won a playoff game.
Nothing was terrible about the pitcher's day on Monday.
Reddick scattered six hits over seven innings, struck out eight, walked one and surrendered one earned run in a 3-2 Butler playoff win over Kiski Area at Hampton Park.
It was the first playoff win for the Golden Tornado in 14 years.
"It's the greatest thing ever," Reddick said. "We did it for the alumni and we did it for ourselves."
And they didn't do it easily.
Butler had several opportunities to break the game wide open, but was unable to get clutch hits.
The Golden Tornado stranded 10 runners. In two innings, the club loaded the bases with one out, but failed to score.
It nearly cost them.
"It made it very interesting," said first-year Butler coach Lori Kline. "I would have liked to get more of those runners in."
Butler opened the game with a 2-0 lead, thanks to a two-run double by Sadie Marak.
Kiski closed to 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning on an unearned run, but also left the bases loaded.
It was the only real jam Reddick found herself in Monday.
Butler added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning on a run-scoring single by Erica Thrower.
But the Golden Tornado left the bases loaded in that frame as well, in large part because of a diving catch in shallow left field by Kiski shortstop Kayla Weiser that saved at least one run.
After giving up a run in the bottom of the sixth inning, Reddick retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh. She recorded the last out when Samantha Motchar hit a roller back to Reddick, who turned and lobbed the ball to first baseman Amanda Skidmore.
As soon as Skidmore caught the ball to record the final out, Reddick burst into celebration.
"They call me selfish when I just tag the girl, so I just threw it over," Reddick said. "It was nervewracking because I had so much time."
But very little rattles Reddick or her teammates these days.
"I'm very proud of the girls," said Kline. "They played very well today, and this wasn't the best they can play."
Butler collected 11 hits off Kiski pitcher Lauren Yohe, who came into the game with six shutouts.
Marak was 3-for-4, Reddick had two hits, including a triple, and Jocelyn Bachman and Skidmore also had multihit games.
"This is the most confident I've seen them hit all year," Kline said.
Butler will face a big second-round test in Mount Lebanon (15-1) on a day, site and time to be determined.
What is for certain is that the Golden Tornado will be coming off a playoff victory for the first time since 1995.

Butler 200 001 0 — 3 11 1
Kiski 000 101 0 — 2 6 0
W: Angie Reddick (7 IP) 8 K, 1 BB. L: Lauren Yohe (7 IP) 6 K, 1 BB.
Butler (10-5): Jocelyn Bachman 2-1B; Karen Cumberledge 1B; Reddick 1B, 3B; Sadie Marak 2B, 2-1B, 2-RBI; Amanda Skidmore 2-1B; Erica Thrower 1B, RBI
Kiski (11-5): Lexus Switzer 1B; Lindsey Nies 1B; Kayla Weiser 3-1B; Yohe 2B, RBI