UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For the second time in five years, a fantastic season for Elizabeth Forward ended with tears and heartbreak at Penn State’s Beard Field.
While the Warriors fell just short of claiming their first state title in school history, there’s no shame in losing to a team like Blue Mountain (27-1), the District 11 champion and now back-to-back PIAA Class 4A champion. And although they might not realize it now, they’ll soon realize that they have plenty to be proud of after restoring Elizabeth Forward’s place as the WPIAL’s top dog in Class 4A.
“We’re a young team,” said Warriors coach Harry Rutherford. “We’ll be back here next year.”
Elizabeth Forward (23-2) simply had no answer for Blue Mountain star Marla Freiwald on Friday afternoon, as the Saint Joseph’s recruit kept the Warriors’ potent lineup off balance with a wicked arsenal of pitches en route to a 4-0 victory. Freiwald struck out only two batters, but she allowed just five hits and walked none in the complete-game shutout, trusting her defense to get the job done behind her — and boy, did they ever.
“Especially as a senior, knowing this is my last time on this field playing as a Blue Mountain Eagle, it means a lot,” Freiwald said. “To do it two times in a row means even more. Just knowing that we went out with a bang.”
Madison Heim and Addyson Fishburn each notched a pair of hits to help lead Blue Mountain to victory, while senior Carlee Soukup went 2 for 3 in her final high school game for Elizabeth Forward. Warriors senior pitcher Shelby Telegdy went 1 for 3 while striking out nine and allowing three earned runs on eight hits and one walk in the defeat — and although she didn’t go out on top, Telegdy still left a lasting impact as one of the best players in school history.
“She’s been a big-game player,” Rutherford said. “She’s been an inspiration for all these younger kids. All the kids we have at camps that come in, they just idolize her. I can’t say enough about what she’s done for the program.”
Elizabeth Forward fell into an early hole as Fishburn singled and scored on a fielding error in the top of the first inning. Fishburn then made a stellar running catch on a rocket of a line drive by Julia Resnik to lead off the bottom of the first inning, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
“We came in knowing it would be a battle,” said Blue Mountain coach Mike Rollman. “I think that showed. I don’t think the 4-0 score really defined the game. … When you can play a clean game like that [on defense], it’s really tough to beat a team like we have.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our girls.”
Freiwald cruised through the first three-plus innings before the Warriors finally produced their first baserunner on a one-out single by Telegdy in the bottom of the fourth. Carlee Soukup then followed with a single to right, but Berlyn Holibaugh got called for interference on a pop-up down the first-base line for the last out of the inning.
In the top of the fifth, Elizabeth Forward center fielder Hannah Evans nearly hauled in a tremendous diving catch on a pop fly by Hailey Place, but the ball rolled out of her glove as she hit the ground, allowing Place to reach second base with a double. Two batters later, Heim singled home Place to make it a 2-0 lead for Blue Mountain.
“We thought [Evans] caught it. They didn’t,” Rutherford said. “To get shut out is disappointing, but [Freiwald] is a good pitcher. I can’t take anything away from her. She did a good job of popping us up.”
The Warriors then stranded one runner on base in the fifth and sixth innings before Blue Mountain tacked on two pivotal insurance runs in the top of the seventh. First, No. 9 hitter Anna Borden ripped an RBI double to the wall in center field, then Heim added another RBI single to make it 4-0 going into the bottom of the seventh.
Down to their last three outs, Holibaugh started off the inning with a leadoff single, but another great defensive play by second baseman Avery Hudock retired Julia Johnson for the first out of the inning, then Freiwald retired the final two batters with a flyout and popout to punctuate her complete-game shutout. But despite the disappointing defeat, Rutherford still has high hopes for Elizabeth Forward’s future — and with good reason.
“We’re only starting two seniors,” Rutherford said. “We have to replace Shelby, but there are enough hitters in the lineup, and we’ve got a pitcher in every grade. I’m not worried about the pitching end of it.
“We’re looking good for the next couple years.”
Steve is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at srotstein@unionprogress.com.
