Scoring 20 runs in a high school softball game isn’t easy. In fact, the 20 runs scored in Northwestern Lehigh’s season opening 20-4 win over Saucon Valley were the most scored by the Lady Tigers since April 24, 2017 against Moravian Academy. Later that season the team put up 19 runs in a win at Catasauqua.

It’s been at least five years since the Tigers put up 20 runs on their home field. Their largest output last season was 16 runs, which happened three times: once against Catasauqua and then in back-to-back games against Moravian Academy. Northwestern beat Saucon Valley 10-1 last season.

The fact that the Lady Tigers fielded a young lineup with two seniors, one junior, three sophomores and three freshmen was no problem as youth was served for Northwestern Lehigh in the mercy rule win over the Panthers.

Freshman hitters put up big days as Morgan Farthing launched a grand slam, Brynn Balliet cracked a two-run home run to center and Olivia Stofflet had three hits, a walk and three RBI in the 19-hit onslaught.

After the Lady Tigers scored four first-inning runs, two of which were driven in by Stofflet, Balliet led off the second with a triple down the left field line. A hit batter and a walk loaded the bases with one out and Farthing went deep with her blast to left field to bust the game wide-open.

“I just knew once it hit the bat that it was gone,” said Farthing of the grand slam in just her second varsity at-bat. She also singled, walked and tripled in the game, driving in a total of five runs for Northwestern.

While she’s a freshman, Tiger head coach Josh Zimmerman pointed out that Farthing has a lot of experience on the softball field.

“She plays a lot of tournament ball and she’s a softball girl year-round and it really shows,” said Zimmerman.

With two outs and nobody on in the third, sophomore Molly Mitman singled to right and stole her second of three bases in the game to put a runner on second. Anna and Emily Akelaitis came through with back-to-back doubles to make it 10-0 and one out later, senior Ashley Sisco singled to drive in the third run of the inning.

In the fourth, Balliet stepped to the plate with a runner on first and hit a long home run to dead center field to start a stretch of seven straight hits for the Lady Tigers, which was interrupted only by a fielder’s choice and a hit batter before Balliet doubled to left-center to end the game.

“I’m really proud of the way that all of the freshmen responded today,” said Zimmerman. “They really responded well and kept their heads in the game and eliminated the mental mistakes. I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Even though it’s a small senior class, Farthing believes that the seniors – Emily Akelaitis and Ashley Sisco – have played a big role in helping the younger players to adjust to playing at the varsity level.

“All of us communicate really well and we’ve bonded well,” said Farthing. “All of the freshmen have fit in well because the seniors have welcomed us and that’s made it a lot easier.”

Mitman, the Lady Tigers’ leadoff hitter, had three singles in the game, but may as well have had three doubles as she promptly stole second to get into scoring position. All three times she was driven home by the number-two hitter, Anna Akelaitis, who had three hits and was hit by a pitch in the game. Northwestern also used speed and strong baserunning to take extra bases throughout the game.