Weaver's 15-strikeout one-hitter paces Pioneers to playoff progress

Maybe Jordan Weaver should bowl before every outing.
Jordan Weaver allowed just one hit and two walks through
seven innings, during which she struck out 15

The five seniors on the L-S softball team were unable to go to either New York or Six Flags on today's senior trip, and instead went bowling as part of a local option. In the end, it didn't turn out too badly for the team, which defeated Littlestown 6-0 today at Hershey High School for round two of the District III playoffs.

Jordan Weaver, whose dominance in the circle this season has been well documented, continued her success today by recording 15 strikeouts through her complete game one-hitter, a shutout.

"Jordan found the strike zone, which was key," says coach Tim Shoff. "She threw her change up effectively."

She was not the only "Jordan" to find success today for the Pioneers, although the other one spells her name differently.

That would be junior centerfielder Jordyn Kondras, who went three for four at the plate -- just a triple short of the cycle -- and drove in a run in the first inning with an RBI double and two more in the second inning with a two-run home run to right-centerfield, which she said was her first "over the fence" home run of the season.

"I wanted to focus on the zone and pick up the team," she says.
L-S infielders (from L) Bri Garber, Delaney Baker, Caroline Braungard, and Hanna Garber had reason to celebrate based on the solid defense they played throughout the afternoon with Hanna Garber fielding grounders at the hot corner, Braungard and Bri Garber snaring line drives to prevent hits, and Baker catching a pop-up and stretching to finish off groundouts 
It's safe to say she was an offensive catalyst. After Bri Garber reached base with a leadoff bunt single and promptly stole second base, Kondras's double brought her in. Thereafter, Delaney Baker hit an RBI single and later in the inning, Robin Feaster had an RBI single set up by a sacrifice bunt from Weaver that moved Baker into scoring position.

Bunting was another key for the Pioneers.

"Everyone contributed today," says Shoff. "We probably had five or six bunts, which is good, probably the most we've had all season."
Coach Tim Shoff praised the total team contribution to the
victory, particularly in moving runners with bunts

In the second inning, Natalie Carson doubled to left field and scored three batters later when Kondras hit a line drive home run. Hanna Garber reached base on an infield single to continue the inning, and stole second and third before reaching home when Delaney Baker, who got on base via a walk, stole second and the catcher's throw went into centerfield, making the score 6-0.

Ultimately, that would end the scoring as Littlestown's hurler McKenzie Somers settled in for the remainder of the outing; although the Pioneers had a handful of baserunners throughout the rest of the game, they could not bring any of them home.

It all worked out, though, for L-S, which now boasts a 22-1 record, the sole blemish coming in the opening round of the league playoffs to Hempfield, who lost in their own district game this afternoon. Up next for the Pioneers is their "re-rematch" -- third game -- with Donegal next Tuesday, May 31.

No matter the foe, Kondras says this team has just one goal.

"We need to stay focused on one game at a time with the end goal in mind ... reaching states."

View gallery of photos via Google Photos
View a box score, recap, and scorecard via Google Drive
View full video highlights via YouTube

--Benjamin Pontz, LSNews.org Editor-In-Chief

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