ATHOLTON SCORES SIX IN FIRST TWO INNINGS, TOPS FRANKLIN IN SEMIFINAL

by Rob Klemko

Atholton capitalized on four Franklin errors in the first inning to go up 4-0 in the Howard County school's eventual 8-1 state semifinal victory Wednesday.

Raiders sophomore pitcher Chelsea Ponce allowed two hits in the win that puts her team in Saturday's 3A final against Northern of Calvert county.

Atholton coach Maureen Shacreaw was concerned when rain threatened to postpone the 7p.m. start for the second time this week.

"The rain coming scared me, we knew we had to jump on them early," Shacreaw said.

Senior second baseman A.J. Ponce, freshman centerfielder Erica Makar and freshman first baseman Haylie Goheen all scored on first inning Franklin fielding errors. A Kylen Seamonson sac-fly scored Chelsea Ponce to put the Raiders up 4-0 in the first.

"We’ve really worked hard to try and play one out at a time," Chelsea Ponce said. "This year, as soon as we get up a run we say its 0-0 and you gotta' continue to play as hard as we can."

Ponce said the early lead was was a huge confidence booster.

"It means so much... even if I give up a run I know that we still have three more and we know we’re not going to give up the lead."



Franklin   000 000 1 - 1 2 6

Atholton 420 011 x - 8 6 1

Eades and Snee; C. Ponce and Sullivan. 2B: Franklin-Eades. 3B: Atholton-C. Ponce.