Late Storm Arrives: Lady Raiders Break It Open to Drop Lions in Sunday Showdown
By: Justin Bradley | SportzWire | May 3, 2026 | Photo courtesy Sportzwire
Blue Ridge and Lackawanna Trail traded punches for much of the afternoon, but when the game reached winning time, the Lady Raiders took over.
Blue Ridge used a composed middle stretch and explosive finish to pull away from the Lions for an 8-2 victory Sunday. What looked like a tight battle through five innings quickly turned into a Lady Raiders surge late.
Blue Ridge struck first in the opening inning when Jaylyn Thatcher delivered a run-scoring single, setting the tone early. The Lady Raiders added another in the second after Abby Piechocki ripped a double, giving the visitors a 2-0 cushion.
Lackawanna Trail stayed patient and waited for its moment. It arrived in the fourth.
Shelby Malamud came through with a clutch double down the left field line, bringing home two runs and tying the game at 2-2. Suddenly, momentum shifted and the Lions had life.
But Blue Ridge never blinked.
In the sixth, Piechocki came through again with a go-ahead single that helped the Lady Raiders reclaim control. Then came the knockout punch — a four-run seventh inning that created separation and sealed the win.
Piechocki finished 2-for-4 and drove in three runs, delivering multiple key swings in the biggest spots. Thatcher also collected two hits while earning the complete-game win in the circle, allowing two runs (one earned) over 6.2 innings with four strikeouts.
The Lions showed fight throughout the afternoon. Malamud drove in both runs, while Averie Higgins, Kate Jones, Payton Laytos, Kacie Antolick, and Lauren Dewey each added hits. Lackawanna Trail also turned a double play defensively.
For five innings, it was anyone’s game.
Then the Lady Raiders brought the thunder.
Blue Ridge Top Performers: Abby Piechocki: 4 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 0 SO Jaylyn Thatcher: 3 AB, 0 R, 2 H, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 0 SO H. Champang: 3 AB, 3 R, 1 H, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 0 SO T. Laude: 4 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 1 SO N. Bailey: 4 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 0 SO
Lackawanna Trail Top Performers:
Shelby Malamud: 4 AB, 0 R, 1 H, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 0 SO
Averie Higgins: 3 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 2 SO
Kate Jones: 2 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 0 SO
Payton Laytos: 4 AB, 0 R, 1 H, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 0 SO
Lauren Dewey: 3 AB, 0 R, 1 H, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 0 SO
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