By ALLEN SEYBERT
Warren has played just four games this season, but Rachel Hasselman has started a two-out rally in three of those contests.
The senior did so once more Monday, starting a two-out rally with a double and eventually scoring the game's only run in a 1-0 victory over Fort LeBoeuf at Hawbaker Field in the Farm Colony Complex, North Warren.
Hasselman's clutch hitting stood up thanks to the outstanding pitcher of sophomore star Alexa Bupp. Bupp allowed just one hit in seven innings of work, striking out seven and walking two.
After the game, Warren coach Mark Bupp marveled at the senior leadership Hasselman has shown all season long.
Fact Box
FORT LeBOEUF (0): ab-r-h-rbi: Banta, ss, 3-0-1-0, Kennelly, 2b, 2-0-0-0, Young, lf, 3-0-0-0, Pietkiewicz, p, 3-0-0-0, Krolczyk, 1b, 2-0-0-0, Luck, 3b, 2-0-0-0, Mitchell, cf, 2-0-0-0, Kuzma, c, 2-0-0-0, Carroll, dp, 2-0-0-0, Pace, rf, 0-0-0-0, Totals: 20-0-1-0
WARREN (1): ab-r-h-rbi: Ishman, 2b, 3-0-0-0, Eaton, ss, 3-0-0-0, Hultquist, rf, 3-0-0-0, Hasselman, 1b, 3-1-2-0, Bupp, p, 1-0-1-0, Bevevino, 3b, 2-0-0-0, Blair, lf, 3-0-1-1, Mineweaser, dp, 3-0-0-0, Walter, cf, 2-0-1-0, Williams, c, 0-0-0-0, Loutzenhiser, cr, 0-0-0-0, Totals: 23-1-5-1
Fort LeBoeuf 000 000 0 - 0 1
Warren 000 001 x - 1 5
2b-Hasselman (W). WP-Bupp. LP-Pietkiewicz.
Junior varsity game
Fort LeBoeuf 021 011 4 - 9 9
Warren 000 003 2 - 5 5
2b-Varpagel (F), Munksgard (W). 3b-M. McIntyre (W). WP-Rose. LP-Loutzenhiser.
"We talked about it after the game," he said. "This is the third time in four games, she has started us off with a rally and the kids behind her were able to come through and capitalize on it. Sticking with it with two outs won us the game today and what Rachel did today and has done this season is tremendous."
While the Dragons struggled to string hits together offensively, the flawless pitching of Bupp kept the game tied 0-0 as the game entered the bottom of the sixth inning.
After the first two batters were out out, Hasselman connected on a double for the lone extra base hit of the ball game. Bupp was walked intentionally and Sam Bevevino also worked a walk to load the bases. That brought Erica Blair to the plate who provided yet another clutch hit, hustling out an infield single to allow Hasselman to score the game's only run.
Coach Bupp praised the effort of his entire defense after the game - especially third baseman Bevevino and shortstop Jaimie Eaton.
Hasselman had two of the Dragons' five hits in the win and Bupp, Blair and Kennedy Walter also recorded singles.
Fort LeBoeuf was a 9-5 winner in the junior varsity game. Meghan McIntyre tripled and Alexis Munksgard doubled in the loss.
The Dragons (4-0) return to action Thursday, hosting McDowell.