The Liberty Hurricanes were loose before the start of their PIAA Class 6A softball quarterfinal game against Spring-Ford last Thursday, singing and laughing to music playing over the PA system at Parkland High School.

That’s what Coach Sam Carrodo wanted them to be, loose and happy, as he motioned “louder” to his team as the music ended. So all things considered, it was a surprise to many that this Hurricane team fell so hard to the Spring-Ford Rams by a score of 9-2.

“We never stopped fighting,” Carrodo said. “At 3-0, at 5-0, we never stopped fighting, and for that, I am extremely proud. With 21 wins and reaching the quarterfinals of states, how can we be disappointed?”

By coin toss, Liberty was the home team, and Paige Zigmund’s first pitch resulted in a fly out. Even a home run by Spring-Ford’s next batter, Megan Kern, couldn’t rattle Zigmund, who proceeded to force a strike out and a ground out to end the top of the first inning.

For the next three innings, Liberty got runners on base while Spring-Ford did not. Kristin Kaleycik got on twice, Jess Watts got on once, Cailin Donegan singled, and Reyna DeJesus doubled. Kaleycik and Watts even had a big double play in the fourth inning, but the score remained 1-0.

It was the sixth inning when everything changed, when Liberty had its best chance, if not for a sliding catch made by Spring-Ford’s left fielder Maddie Little, ironically, on a hit by Hurricane left fielder Skilee Diaz.

By that time, the Rams were ahead 5-0, but the Hurricanes were gaining ground.

Donegan and Miranda Kinney walked. Zigmund had a base hit, and courtesy runner, Jackie Jones scored. Alexa Burger also had an RBI single to right field. With two outs and runners on first and third, Diaz’s hit was caught, and the Rams proceeded to score four more runs in the seventh inning.

“I thought we hit [Spring-Ford pitcher Sam Lindsay] really hard,” said Carrodo, who told his Hurricanes he was not about to say one negative word to them after the game. “The hardest part is saying goodbye to the seniors.”

For Zigmund, a freshman, it was Donegan, the senior catcher, who gave her confidence all season.

“She would help me when I was doing bad. She’s just so sweet, and I love her,” said a teary Zigmund. “Today, she said, just finish strong.”