OBSERVER Photo by Lisa Monacelli Pine Valley shortstop Lyric Westlund throws to first base during Wednesday’s CCAA Division 2 East softball game against the Frewsburg Lady Bears.

FREWSBURG — MaKena Adams pitched the game of her life on Wednesday evening, as she threw a no-hitter en route to the Frewsburg Lady Bears’ 9-0 victory over the Pine Valley Lady Panthers in a CCAA Division 2 East battle. Adams has come close in the past, but this was the first no hitter for her since she was in eighth grade.

“Last year, she was a dominant pitcher,” said Pine Valley coach Dave Saxton. “She is a lot better this year. Her speed is faster and she has the best changeup of any pitcher that I have seen in years.”

Adams recorded nineteen strikeouts and only faced two batters over the minimum.

“It would be nice to have somebody with her caliber on your team,” Saxton added. “We have a young team and few have seen someone at that level.”

The Lady Bears got off to a quick start with three runs in the first inning. Elise Sposato reached on an error to start the rally. Ashley Carlson followed and came through with an RBI single. After two more walks to load the bases, the catcher threw the ball to first base in an attempt to pick off the runner, but the throw got away, allowing two runs to come through.

“We always try to be aggressive on the bases,” Frewsburg coach Jon Blanchard stated. “We like to put the pressure on other teams to execute perfectly and we usually make good decisions in the process.”

Frewsburg (6-2, 3-0) added another run in the second, highlighted by Adams RBI double to bring around Peyton Yost. Pine Valley played with a tough Frewsburg team as pitchers Malori Waag and Haley Pillard combined to keep the Lady Bears scoreless in the middle innings.

The Lady Bears erupted for five insurance runs in the sixth inning. Sam Smith led off with a single. After an error, Yost and Sposato each followed through with an RBI single. The big hit of the inning came from a three run home run by Adams that went deep over the fence.

According to Blanchard, “We had a new fence that was put in this past year where the fence was moved up and she was the first to hit the ball over it.”

Waag pitched the first four innings, giving up four runs from two hits while striking out three. Pillard came in during relief and pitched two innings, surrendering five runs from seven hits while striking out two.

“Haley is an up and coming pitcher and she did a good job, but unfortunately made a few mistakes behind her,” Saxton stated. “We do not want to burn out Malori this early in the season with all of these games. Malori played great in center field retrieving deep balls that were hit and making a running catch. Sage Haskins, a player who has not played at this level before, also played great at second base, making five assists.”

Frewsburg was led offensively by Adams with three hits and four RBI. Kiah Johnson also had a multiple hit game while Sam Smith reached base three times.

“Adams is effective in every aspect of the game,” Blanchard stated. “She has stepped up as a leader this year and the other girls have responded positively. She is supportive in the circle, with the bat, and on the bench. She has become an effective pitcher and makes a lot of good decisions when selecting her pitches.”

Lyric Westlund had a quality at bat to foul off a pitch from Adams before getting a walk. Katelyn Miller was the other player to reach base when she placed a quality bunt and reached on an error.

Pine Valley (1-5, 1-3,) looks to get back to its winning ways when they travel to Franklinville today while Frewsburg travels to Jamestown today for a non-league matchup.