Nazareth freshman fires another one-hitter

Freshman Taylor Lichtenhahn pitched her second one-hit shutout in two days and her Nazareth Academy teammates combined an extra-base hit and a couple of errors for all of their runs in a 3-0 victory Thursday over visiting Radnor in a nonleague softball game.

In improving to 5-0 and recording the Pandas' 10th win in 11 games this season, Lichtenhahn retired the first 13 batters she faced before Britney Mallory got the lone hit off her.

On Wednesday, Lichtenhahn had one-hit Villa Joseph Marie, 18-0, in an Athletic Association of Catholic Academies matchup. The Pandas are seeking their fifth straight league title.

"I found out after the win over Villa Joe that I was pitching today," Lichtenhahn said. "I went to a combine where Christy [Von Pusch] was participating, so I figured this game today would be a duel."

It was, and Von Pusch was on the short end of it, despite allowing only two hits for Radnor (4-4).

Nazareth, ranked fifth in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer, scored its first run in the second inning without a hit. Jennie Jester reached on an error, advanced to second on a bunt, stole third, and came home on a passed ball.

That's the way it stood until the fifth inning, when Brittany Colombo drew a one-out walk and scored on Alicia Keough's triple to left. Keough scored when Radnor misplayed Alex Stermel's hard-hit ball to the infield.

It was the first triple of the season for Keough, who had visions of a home run when she hit the ball to left field.

"All I was thinking was to move the runner when I came to the plate, but when I saw where it was going, I did think possible home run," Keough said, flashing a big smile.

"It was an inside pitch, but I'm not sure what it was."

Hitting better than .450 this season, Keough plans to play for the University of Pittsburgh next season.

The only other hit off Von Pusch, a junior who has committed to Penn State, was stroked by Stermel leading off the fourth inning. Stermel did get to third base with one out, but she was stranded there as Von Pusch recorded two of her 10 strikeouts. Lichtenhahn had seven strikeouts.

"Christy's not near her game yet," said Radnor coach Dave Conoway, who has been working to build up the program in his six years as coach.

"We're very young. We have a sophomore at third base and a freshman at short. Two sophomores are injured and didn't play today. It was a good experience to play Nazareth. They are very good and very well coached."

Nazareth coach Bob Keating, who suffered a heart attack before the season and was told he couldn't run the team for a while, watched the game from beyond the outfield.

"I'm coming back. I'm coming back," he joked with Joe Cipolloni, who is running team in Keating's absence.

"I noticed he's getting closer to the field all the time," Cipolloni said.

Radnor   0000000 - 013

Nazareth Academy   010020x - 321

WP: Taylor Lichtenhahn. LP: Christy Von Pusch. 3B: N-Alicia Keough.