Dallastown softball, Harbold roll against West York

Dallastown pitcher Jaelynn Harbold got plenty of help in the Wildcats' 15-0 YAIAA crossover softball win against West York Wednesday, but she didn't need that much.

Harbold pitched five innings of one-hit ball while homering, reaching base in each of her four at-bats and scoring three runs at West York High School. The game was halted after five innings by the 10-run rule.

"It's a long season," said West York coach Chris Ilyes. "You've got to have a short memory. Give Dallastown credit. They came ready to play. They brought the bats and pitched well."

Dallastown (6-1, 5-0 Division I) has won four straight games since its 5-2 loss to Kennard-Dale on March 30. It was the most runs by Dallastown since they scored 18 in a win over Dover on March 31.

West York (4-2, 3-1 Division II) had plated 49 runs in its first five games this season and scored 11 runs three straight times to open the year. Against the righty Harbold, the Bulldogs could not muster a hit until No. 6 hitter Sarah Godfrey singled on a first pitch to center field to open the bottom of the fifth.

"We didn't have it in this one for some reason," Ilyes said. "I can't explain it. We weren't ready to play. That was obvious. We can't play like that against a team the caliber of Dallastown and expect to win or even compete. Our last game we had 17 hits. We just did not have the bats in this game."

The Bulldogs' best chance to score came in the first inning. Left fielder Gabriella Ilyes reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and third base, but was left stranded as Harbold got a strikeout and a fly out to left.

Harbold walked two batters while striking out seven. She struck out the side in the third inning and finished the game with two straight.

"Really, everything was working," Harbold said. "(Dallastown catcher) Mel (Grant) called a good game. She had a good pitch selection, which helps."

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The righty-swinging Harbold also provided the first-inning punch for Dallastown at the plate. Her three-run home run to left field capped a five-run top of the first for the Wildcats.

"The pitch before, I fouled off," Harbold said. "I had two strikes and was just trying to get the ball in play for the team."

Dallastown scored five more runs in the second inning, highlighted by a two-run triple from cleanup hitter Danielle Ludwig and a run-scoring double by No. 6 hitter Grant.

"It's always good to get those runs in early," Harbold said. "Our offense makes everything go. It makes us comfortable. I feel it gives us an edge."

Kayla Collins hit a one-out double to plate a run as the Wildcats added two more runs in the third inning. Madison Johnson and Maggie Noll had back-to-back, two-out, run-scoring singles to end Dallastown's scoring in the fifth.

"They were hitting, up and down the lineup," said Dallastown coach Jeff Deardorff. "Everybody hit. They played really well."

Dallastown 15, West York 0 (5)

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Dt, Jaelynn Harbold and Mel Grant; WY, Jossalin Shipley, Kayla Michael (2) and Kelsie Weaver.

SO-BB— Dt, Harbold 7-2. WY, Shipley 1-2, Michael 1-0; W — Harbold; L — Shipley; 2B — Dt, Lyndee Anders, Kayla Collins, Mel Grant (2); 3B — Dt, Haylee Anders, Danielle Ludwig; HR — Dt, Jaelynn Harbold.