EF prevails behind big first inning

By JOSE NEGRON
jnegron@yourmvi.com
In a battle between two of the top teams in Class 4A, Elizabeth Forward bested Belle Vernon Area Wednesday in the first of two matchups this season.
The Warriors struck for four runs in the first inning and managed to keep the Leopards’ dangerous bats at bay in a 5-2 victory in Section 2-4A action at Tom Rodriguez Field.
Singles by Lauren Vay and Shelby Telegdy helped get things started for EF (6-0, 3-0) before Vay came around to score on a single by Julia Resnik. One batter later, Bella Gimiliano delivered with one of the biggest hits of the afternoon, lining a two-run double into the gap in right-center field for a 3-0 lead. Alivia Grimm later added an RBI single to left off BVA starter Olivia Kolowitz to push the Warriors’ lead to four before the Leopards (6-2, 3-1) could even step to the plate for the first time.
“Our plan was to hit (Olivia) and shake her up a little bit,” EF head coach Harry Rutherford said. “Any time you can put runs on a good team, they’ll maybe look over their shoulder and think, ‘OK, what’s going to happen here?’ It was good to be able to put four runs up early.”

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