The first high school softball game of the city rivalry series resulted in a 3-0 victory for Bethlehem Catholic over Freedom last Wednesday, but two days later, Liberty defeated the Hawks 4-1.

"It was a signature win," said Liberty coach Sam Carrodo. "We needed to get some respect, and a win like this ... Beca has an outstanding team. Three, four, five runs ahead, and you can't stop. We had to stay on the pedal the whole game."

The Hurricanes attacked from the start when lead-off hitter, Reyna DeJesus, hit a triple. Precious Torres singled to score DeJesus. Victoria Schmidt reached first base on an error, and Kristin Kaleycik singled to score Torres. Schmidt scored on a passed ball, and Tori Kaleycik also singled.

In the bottom of the second, the Hawks left the bases loaded.

Schmidt, Liberty's pitcher, said, "I just really focused on every pitch and each batter. When they got the singles, I just thought my teammates could get every out for me. I just tried to get the ball low."

In the top of the fifth inning, Kristin Kaleycik gave the Hurricanes a little more wiggle room with a home run. In the bottom of the fifth, Jess Indelicato was safe at first base on a slow grounder, got to third base on a bunt by Angelys Cotto, and scored on Tosh Miner's grounder for the Hawks.

Beca threatened in the bottom of the sixth, but Schmidt turned a likely error into a double play on a pop-up.

"The ball didn't go in my glove right, but my infielders told me where to throw it," she said.

With a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh, Carrodo's assistant coaches sent him to the dugout.

"I was more nervous than the girls, and they didn't want me to get them nervous," he said. "This win was one we needed. We needed a signature win, and this was it."

In Becahi's game against Freedom, the Hawks first run came in the top of the second inning when Bethanne Brandstetter scored on a fielder's choice after hitting a triple.

"Shayla [Peterson] is a good pitcher, and anything you get, you have to take. At first, I thought it was going foul because it was tailing," Brandstetter said.

In the top of the sixth inning, Brandstetter came up again, this time with the bases loaded.

"Yeah, I was nervous, but I got up there and swung the bat," she said.

Brandstetter's single drove in a run by Miner after Cotto scored on a passed ball.

Although the Patriots hit the ball consistently, most were grounders or fly balls.

"It was a big deal [beating Freedom]. They're a great team, and they came and showed it," said Brandstetter.

Becahi's win over Freedom was the third victory for freshman pitcher, Alexa Pannuccio, who stepped in for an injured Elyse Cuttic.

Becahi coach Rich Mazza said, "The pitcher was brought up from JV It definitely was risky. She's very, very coachable, she tries hard, she has ice in her veins, and she puts the ball away. Coach Billy sizes up each batter, and she puts the ball right where he wants it."