With Bald Eagle’s move up to Class AAA preventing a potential postseason rematch, the game served as the closing tiebreaker of a hard-fought three-game saga between storied pitchers Sierra Albright and Alizabeth Schuler.

The pair proceeded to put their best foot forward, scattering seven combined hits throughout the game. Just one of those hits ended up being the deciding factor, as Bald Eagle senior Sydney Thompson converted a fifth-inning double into the contest’s only run and Albright and her field did the rest to secure the 1-0 win.

“It was very exciting,” said Thompson on the game-winning run. “Obviously, we want to win, and it just set the tone for the rest of the season.”

In her last matchup with Schuler, Albright delivered her best performance in the extended series.

Sydney Thompson of BEA scores during the fifth inning as catcher Lily Reidy of South Williamsport waits for play to resume in South Williamsport Wednesday afternoon. BEA won, 1-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The three-hit shutout featured 14 strikeouts – the second highest number she’s produced this season – to just three walks, one being intentional. Through seven innings, the Mounties never once made it to third base. And from the second to fourth, none got to fourth.

“Bottom line is, she pitched a heck of the game,” said South Williamsport head coach Thomas O’Malley on Albright. “We struck out 14 times and that’s way too many. We’ve got to put the ball in play and unfortunately, we didn’t. We had some opportunities and couldn’t come through.”

In the rare occasions where South got the ball rolling, particularly late in the game, Albright didn’t waver.

After surrendering a leadoff walk in the fifth to Kendall Cardone, she’d respond with a three-pitch strikeout. And when Abby Lorson put Cardone in scoring position on the ensuing at-bat, she’d do it again before forcing an immediate pop out to second baseman Maelee Yoder to strand the runners.

The next set of batters would be South’s top of the order, arguably the game’s defining moment on the defensive end. There, she’d strikeout out the first two, catching Mikaiya Hills swinging to close a seven-pitch affair. Two batters later, with two runners on, she’d strikeout out the same batter she’d issued a walk to in the previous stanza, stifling the Mounties’ last promising attack.

Alizabeth Schuler of South Williamsport pitches in the second inning to BEA in South Williamsport Wednesday afternoon. BEA won, 1-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“She’s probably the most even-keeled pitcher we’ve ever had for four years,” said Bald Eagle head coach Donald Lucas on Albright. “She’s never too high, nor too low.”

Even with Albright’s heroics from the mound, something had to give in order to take home the victory. And with the score knotted at 0-0 heading into the fifth, Bald Eagle’s best chance at offense stepped up to the plate.

After watching two balls go by, Sydney Thompson would take a chance on the next pitch, making great contact and belting the ball deep to right center, forcing South’s outfield to chase it to the wall.

“I was just thinking, ‘Swing.’ It was two balls, and I figured it was going to be a strike,” said Thompson on the at-bat. “But it was a team win, like I wouldn’t have made it home if my team didn’t hit, then hit again to get me in.”

A well-placed grounder from Raelee Repasky would allow her to advance to third on a fielder’s choice. And while it wouldn’t count as a hit, Maelee Yoder’s infield grounder on the ensuing at-bat would take an awkward bounce, slipping through Kendall Cardone’s glove and allowing Thompson to get home on the error.

Sydney Thompson of BEA connects on a double in the fifth inning against South Williamsport in South Williamsport Wednesday afternoon. BEA won, 1-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

In a game where runs were at a premium, that one sequence – coupled with the endless number of plays the team made defensively – was what brought it over the edge. The Mounties would go on to strand three to cap the inning before thwarting another promising scenario in the seventh with an exceptional double play from Gianna Goodman, adding to the importance of Bald Eagle’s fifth inning.

“I knew that it was a very good opportunity for that run to score,” said Yoder on contributing on a pressurized at-bat. “I didn’t try to swing at any pitches that weren’t strike. And just kind of played it by ear.”

For South (11-3), the loss still displayed its defensive grit along with the continued growth Schuler’s endured at the plate. After going through the team’s first two matchups with the Eagles without a hit, she notched her first to kick things off and finished the day with a team-leading two hits alongside her stellar performance from the mound.

“I just knew I had to get on top of the ball because she’s a rise-ball pitcher,” said Schuler on that success. “So, imagining hitting the top of the ball really helped me stay through and not get out.”

Gianna Goodman consistently made smart, well-timed plays at shortstop, most notably keeping the Eagles from scoring an additional run in the fifth with a great fielder’s choice to home. Right fielder Sage Lorson caught multiple promising liners in the game’s early goings and Emma McLaughlin made some great plays late, playing a key role in the team’s sixth- inning retirement with two force outs.

Lily Reidy of South Williamsport gets the force out at home plate on Maelee Yoder of BEA during the fifth inning in South Williamsport Wednesday afternoon. BEA won, 1-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

A loss is a loss but there weren’t a lot of negatives to take away from it apart from its stifled offense and blemished fifth. For now, the focus is on getting back on the track in a road matchup against Holy Redeemer (8-4) on Friday.

“This loss will make us better for the rest of the season because we know how we feel,” said Schuler. “We don’t want to feel this way again and just playing a good team really helps us.”

For Bald Eagle (9-3), the win makes it four straight for the team after falling in back-to-back games in mid-April. To cap this week of action, it’ll try to make it five against another great team in Westmont Hilltop (11-1).

“I think we’re going uphill by a lot,” said Yoder on the team’s recent span. “We’re doing a lot better and we’re not in our heads as much.”

Bald Eagle Area 1, South Williamsport 0

Abigail Lorson (22) of South Williamsport forces out Kailey Eckert of BEA at first base during the 3rd inning in South Williamsport Wednesday afternoon. BEA won, 1-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

BEA 000 010 0 – 1 4 0

SW 000 000 0 – 0 3 1

Sierra Albright and Kailey Eckert. Alizabeth Schuler and Lily Reidy. W – Albright. L – Schuler.

Top Bald Eagle Area hitters: Sydney Thompson 1-3, 2B, run; Maelee Yoder 1-3; Taylor Habovick 1-3; Sierra Albright 1-2; BB. Top South Williamsport hitters: Alizabeth Schuler 2-3, 2B; Sage Lorson 1-2, BB; Kendall Cardone BB.

Sierra Albright of BEA leads the line of her team mates as BEA and South slap hands after the game in South Williamsport Wednesday afternoon. BEA won, 1-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette