Hungry for more
Butler pounds out 16 hits against Pine-Richland, earn 11-5 win

By Josh Rizzo
Eagle Staff Writer

BUTLER TWP — Emily McDonald didn’t think. She saw the first pitch, liked it and drilled it down the third-base line for a double off the fence.
For the Butler softball team, it was all about setting the tempo. That’s exactly what the Golden Tornado junior pitcher did Friday night against Pine-Richland.
“I was hungry for the hit, went out and took it,” McDonald said. “I didn’t think much in the batter’s box. I just drove it.”
McDonald’s hit was the first of 16 for Butler in an 11-5 Section 3-AAAA win over the Rams.
First-year Golden Tornado coach Shauna Troup said the team was unhappy after dropping its section opener 9-2 Thursday to North Allegheny.
“We talked a lot yesterday about having heart when we play. That carried over today,” Troup said. “We talked about being hungry to win. Today, we got fed.”
Hope Wonderling followed McDonald’s opening hit with a bunt single. McDonald then scored on an illegal pitch by Pine-Richland pitcher Keely Flynn. Rams coach Patti White said that effected Flynn’s game. Butler tortured Flynn, chasing her after she allowed 10 runs on 13 hits in four innings.
“They threw our pitcher off by calling that illegal pitch,” White said. “She wasn’t pushing off, so she wasn’t getting anything on her balls. None of them were dropping or screwing.”
Noel Pfabe drove in Wonderling with a single to put Butler (1-1, 1-1) ahead 2-0 in the first. Pfabe had a big day, finishing 4 for 4 and driving in four runs.
“I felt pretty good. In the gym, we do a lot of batting so I was prepared,” Pfabe said.
Pfabe extended the Golden Tornado lead to 4-0 in the second inning by singling in Wonderling and Madi Graham.
Butler kept Pine-Richland (1-1, 1-1) off the scoreboard until the fourth inning. In the third inning, Rams sophomore Kelly Jones was thrown out at the plate by Butler third baseman Anna Heade.
“Just starting out of the shoot scoring gave us a little momentum,” Troup said. “When they didn’t answer right away that continued to drive us.”
When Pine-Richland cut the lead to 4-1 in the fourth inning, the Golden Tornado responded with six runs to go ahead 10-1.
Butler had six hits in the inning, including a two-run double from Pfabe.
“It brought our confidence up on a high level,” Pfabe said. “We started getting hits and hits and played as team.”
Kaitlin Barnett and Hope Wonderling also drove in runs for the Golden Tornado during that inning.
After Pine-Richland added four runs to cut the lead to 10-5 in the sixth, McDonald added an insurance run on a bizarre play.
Pfabe hit a single that leaked out of the outfield and it appeared McDonald had been thrown at the plate by rightfielder Madison Steinkirchner.
But McDonald’s slide dislodged the ball and the umpires overturned the call.
It was all about effort.
“Today, we hit a lot better and are playing as a team,” McDonald said. “I trust these girls with all my heart. We’re all one team.”
Pine-Richland 000 140 0 — 5 13 1
Butler 220 610 x — 11 16 1
W: Emily McDonald 7 (3, 0). L: Keely Flynn 4 (3, 0).
Pine-Richland (1-1, 1-1): Maura Kelly 2B, Kelly Jones 2B
Butler (1-1, 1-1): Noel Pfabe 4 for 4 4 RBIs, Rachel Rebdman 2B RBI, Hope Wonderling 3 H, Emily McDonald 2B