Freedom pitcher Jennifer Slanovec took good care of the Patriots offensively and defensively in their 6-0 East Penn Conference softball quarterfinal victory over Easton last Thursday at Freedom.

Slanovec started the Pates’ scoring with a solo home run in the second inning and finished the scoring with a grand slam in the sixth inning.

“It wasn’t even about the type of hit,” said Slanovec, regarding the grand slam, “it was just getting a line drive or a solid hit far out in the outfield to score maybe one or two runs. “I think our whole team wishes we would have broken out earlier because it’s about everyone being comfortable. If a ball gets hit, it’s about you having the ability to field it well.”

In the bottom of the sixth and after multiple foul balls, Brenna Ortwein got on base with a hit to the outfield.

“This isn’t the first game we waited until the end to break open,” Ortwein said. “Jen was doing a really good job holding them, but we had to do more to get behind her, and we’re going to have to work on that during playoffs, but it just takes one hit to get it started.”

Abby Husser was walked, Hailey Snisky had a single, and the bases were loaded for Slanovec.

“Jen just had the game of her life out here,” said Freedom coach Michele Laubach. “I could tell with her - when she’s on, she’s on, and she was definitely on out here today.”

Freedom will move on to semifinals with a game against Parkland, and Laubach is hoping the Pates will strike earlier in the game.

“We were like, Girls, we can’t live on one run the whole time, so we were just waiting,” Laubach said. “This is the second time we’ve seen this pitcher. This is somebody we’re batting seven, eight times off of her, so we’re hoping we can take that learning into Parkland.”

Editor’s Note: Freedom defeated Parkland 3-2 on Monday night to advance to the finals vs. Northampton. The Press will have more on the Pates’ run in the EPC playoffs in next week’s edition.