Two home runs in the first inning for Freedom’s softball team led to a 3-1 victory over Northampton on April 14 at Freedom.

Center fielder Landry Guman led off with a home run, initially mistaken for a ground rule double, to left field.

“When I looked over, [the outfielder] was already hanging over the fence. I was gonna keep going, and then the umpire told me to stop, so I listened to what he said, but I was really happy to see it went over,” Guman said. “I got down a little in that at bat, and then it was a full count, and I was thinking, if I see that pitch, I’m just gonna rip it because it was a big game, and I needed to start this one off strong.”

Second baseman Namelia Duro followed up with a solo home run to center field.

“We pride ourselves on offense,” said first-year Freedom coach Jeff Pronovich. “We hit every day. We hit hard. It’s a great luxury to have to hit one through nine. Our bench is so strong, our depth. Hats off to those kids too because they sit and wait their turn.”

In the bottom of the second inning, Guman’s RBI single to center field scored Taylor D’Amico who was safe on a fielder’s choice and then stole second base.

Northampton’s only run came in the sixth inning when Avery Deibert’s RBI double scored Hannah Duerr, who was on base with a single.

Winning pitcher Madison Bixler delivered two strikeouts in the top of the seventh inning.

“My catcher (Payton Besecker) and I have a really good bond, so when she calls pitches, she knows what’s working and what’s not, so basically, my pitching sequence is what was working best for me,” Bixler said. “I kept telling my infield, we’ve got to be brick walls out there. Anything gets to you, you got it.”

First baseman Christina Kish dove head-first to secure the last out of the game. It was the second time Kish came up with an out on a close play.

“Every team is beatable any other day,” Pronovich said. “You saw how we lost to Liberty, and hats off to them. Addy (Smith) pitched a great game. Addy looked like MVP Addy. But we prepared the same way for Liberty that we did for Easton that we did for the other eight games we played so far. We hit really well today, but [Northampton] made some really great plays.”

Coach Pronovich also noted the Patriots’ good fortune in having two solid pitchers in Bixler, a transfer from Bethlehem Catholic, and Duro.

“It’s the old one-two punch,” he said. “They’re both ready to go. Namelia proved herself last year that she could carry the team, and she took us to EPCs and a championship there. It’s a luxury to have two aces, and that’s what we have. Innings-wise, they’re pretty even right now.”