Devils denied perennial softball division title

Greencastle-Antrim’s opportunity to control its own destiny slipped through its fingers by the narrowest of margins last week; a development which ultimately broke a string of seven straight division titles for the Blue Devil softball program.

Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat at the hands of Northern meant G-A needed Waynesboro to upset the Polar Bears May 7. That didn’t happen and Northern won the Mid-Penn Colonial Division crown, the first time in eight years that trophy hasn’t made the trip to Greencastle.

The season is anything but lost for the Blue Devils however as the postseason looks very bright. G-A had opened the week by handling Waynesboro 11-4 and trounced non-divisional Camp Hill 19-2. On Monday the Devils continued their drive to strengthen their power ranking for districts by knocking off Chambersburg. G-A (12-4) is in the fifth power spot toward a 20-team bracket. The District 3-AAA tournament begins May 18.

The Northern game was decided in the second inning on a triple that followed a single. The two hits together were something that eluded the Devils, who did threaten a couple of times but to no avail. Each team recorded five hits in the closely-contested game. Jenna Crunkleton doubled.

A day earlier it took a little while for the Devils to break out against the Maidens who etched a 3-1 advantage through three innings. Eventually the Blue Devils unleashed 13 hits against Waynesboro that rounded up eight runs in the fifth.

Rachel Kline (double) went 3-for-5. Crunkleton knocked in four runs that included a two-run homer in the seventh. Crunkleton, Ward, Wink (double) and Briggs each had two hits. Wink inked the win in the circle with six strikeouts.

The hit parade continued Thursday on Camp Hill’s turf in the Devils’ 19-2 route in four innings. G-A rounded up 14 hits, led by Kelsey Brewbaker who was helping her own cause. Brewbaker went 4-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs that included a solo homer. She fanned six in the pitching win with one walk.

Michaela Ensminger went 3-for-3 with a pair of triples. Kline tallied three RBIs on two hits. Crunkleton added two hits. Wink and Mackenzie Gayman each drove in a pair of runs. Crunkleton, Kline, Wink and Gayman doubled.