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BEA’s Albright surpasses 800 Ks, Thompson 100 hits in loss at Williamsport

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area left fielder reacts after getting on base against Philipsburg-Osceola on Tuesday, April 3, 2025, during a 13-3 win. The senior surpassed 100 career hits in Saturday's game at Williamsport.

WILLIAMSPORT – While the Bald Eagle Area softball team suffered its second loss of the season on Saturday, falling to Williamsport at Millionaire Mountain by a score of 7-4, the defeat was more bittersweet than fully negative. Not only did the Eagles outscore the Millionaires 4-0 through the final four innings, but they also saw two players eclipse large milestones.

With a dropping line drive to right field in the first inning, senior left fielder Sydney Thompson logged the 100th hit of her career, with the accomplishment being announced by the away PA. And after striking out five batters through the first two innings, ace pitcher Sierra Albright logged two more in the third to eclipse 800 career Ks.

Thompson would go on to attribute hits on two of her next three at-bats, finishing the day going 3-for-4 with a third-inning double and two RBIs. On the season, she’s been on a tear and currently leads the team in batting average (.600, 12-of-20), runs (11) and homers (1) while also sporting seven RBIs and three doubles.

“It’s been years in the making,” said Thompson on the accomplishment. “It just feels good.”

For Albright, the milestone follows up her breaking the Centre County strikeout record in a win at Penns Valley on Monday. That record stood for almost 20 years, held previously by former Bellefonte pitcher Laura Caldwell.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area pitcher Sierra Albright pitches during a 4-0 shutout win at Penns Valley on Monday, April 13, 2025. The senior surpassed 800 career strikeouts at Williamsport on Saturday, less than a week after beating the Centre County strikeouts record.

“It was really cool to break it because my pitching coach’s daughter (Laura Caldwell) is the one who held it,” said Albright. “So, it was really cool to break her record.”

After securing strikeout No. 800 in the third, the senior went on to punch out another six batters on the day, finishing with 13. She heads into Game 8 of 18 of the regular season with 806, and is already nearing 100 on the season with 80.

“It’s been a big goal of mine to get to 1,000, so hopefully I can accomplish it,” said Albright on the prospect of approaching 1,000. “It’s reachable. I would need (272 this season), two more than my sophomore season.”

The pair will look to continue building on strong starts to their senior seasons on Monday, when the Eagles travel to Central Cambria to take on the 5-2 Red Devils. That game is set for 5 p.m.

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