Bethlehem Academy softball cruises through sections 1st round

Considering that Bethlehem Academy had beaten Lyle/Pacelli 19-1 less than a month ago, it was not terribly surprising to look up and see the Cardinals winning 12-0 Monday afternoon in the first round of the section tournament.

However, it was a bit surprising that the scoreboard noted that the 12-0 score came in just the first inning.

But it was that kind of afternoon for Bethlehem Academy who jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, the game ending after a scoreless top of the fourth inning with a 15-0 final. In total the Cardinals recorded 18 hits as seven different Bethlehem Academy hitters registered a multiple hit afternoon.

If you were looking for a bit of potential drama in a game that featured such lopsided talent, you might have found it as Lyle/Pacelli loaded the bases after some unusually rusty pitching by Morgan Wilson, but with no runs to show for it and the threat came and went. A few minutes later, so too did Lyle/Pacelli’s only chance of pulling off the upset.

Because from there it was almost painful to watch. For all their occasional batting woes, the Cardinals looked like they were at practice, crushing pitch after pitch while aggressive base running to attack shaky fielding only added to the ever growing score. Anna Tobin, Anna Cohen and Wilson batted in nine runs all on their own as the top half of the order chewed through Lyle/Pacelli’s defense.

By the time the third inning came around manager Scott Trump was subbing in all sorts of players for a chance to get some developmental at-bats in a game that had already been decided. If it hadn’t been the postseason the defeat would have almost felt cruel - then again it’s amazing to imagine that a 15-0 victory was somehow the kinder of the two games between these teams this season - but during a time of year when your season can end on any given day, there’s no reason to leave anything to chance.

Of course going up 12-0 in the first inning doesn’t hurt either.

The Cardinals were set to return to action Tuesday night for the second round of the section tournament, almost certainly facing a stiffer test and Lewiston-Altura but pending weather postponed that contest. Although Bethlehem Academy wouldn’t have complained if it was another quick game en route to a second-consecutive state playoff appearance, rainy or not.