There were times when the Lehighton softball team was down on Friday.

But the Indians were never out.

Facing an early deficit and an injury to their starting pitcher, the Tribe never wavered.

Lehighton responded with gutsy 12-4 Schuylkill League victory over Jim Thorpe.

It was a resilient performance by the Indians (5-9), who snapped a two-game losing streak in the process.

“That’s the positive thing about this group,” said Lehighton mentor Dave Yob. “Even though we’ve been down, they haven’t given up. They play hard, they come through and they do what they can to try to win. As a coach, you can’t ask for much more.”

The Indians fell behind 2-0, and lost starting pitcher Abbie Miller after a collision with one out in the top of the second inning.

But a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning tied the score, and a five-run outburst in the next inning gave Lehighton a 7-2 lead - highlighted by a two-out hit from Alyssa Myers that brought home three runs.

“I think it’s really important because it really shows how you can work together as a team,” said Marlee Craig, who pitched 5 2/3 innings of relief. “Even a little bit later in the season, you can really come together and work together to make something great happen.”

Craig allowed three hits, one walk and two earned runs in relief. The sophomore struck out two.

“Obviously, whenever you lose a player, it is a big hit, especially for the starting pitcher,” Craig said of Miller. “But after that happens you kind of get that fire back, and say, ‘Hey, let’s work hard for our teammate who can’t play anymore.’ It really helped bring us together, and I feel like that fire really helped us win.”

She got plenty of run support. The Indians sent nine batters to the plate in the third, and batted around in a four-run fourth inning to build an 11-3 advantage.

“We all did come together pretty well after that happened,” said Mia Snyder. “We all let it go and focused on what he had to do.”

Amy Dwojewski had a two-run single in the fourth, and Eryn Mertz (double), Makayla Scott also knocked in runs.

Dwojewski had three hits and three RBIs along with a run scored. Scott and Mertz each had three hits and three runs scored.

“They played solid defense behind Marlee and we hit the ball,” said Yob. “I told them that we need to hit the gaps, and stay away from the home runs. This is a big field. Find the gaps, and run like crazy.

“We’ve told them a handful of times that we know we are this close to being a really good-hitting team.”

Snyder had an RBI double and a run-scoring single and scored two runs. Addison Chavanic delivered a double, triple and scored twice.

The Olympians (4-11) took an early lead after Oleska McAndrew and Tara McLean scored in the top of the first inning.

“We talked to the girls yesterday and said the biggest thing we were missing was hitting and driving the ball,” said Thorpe mentor Keith Brinker. “Today we drove the ball to the outfield, but they were caught.

“It’s a good team, and you have to take your opportunities when you can.”

McAndrew finished with two hits, and McLean one for Thorpe. Kristin Pompa and Melina Schwartz each had a hit and run scored, while Jada Mahmde doubled and Mara Levins singled.

“The excitement for the game has always been there,” said Brinker. “But Lehighton took momentum and was able to capitalize.”

LAST TIME

... Lehighton topped Jim Thorpe 7-6 in eight innings on April 11. The Indians also hit three home runs in that contest.

WEB GEMS

... After a one-out double from Mahmde in the top of the fifth, Lehighton centerfielder Anna Laible made two nice catches in the outfield with swirling winds to end the inning. Maggie Pagotto also had back-to-back put puts from shortstop for the Tribe in the top of the third before Craig fielded her position to end the inning.

UP NEXT

... Jim Thorpe plays at North Schuylkill on Tuesday, while Lehighton visits Panther Valley Monday.

Jim Thorpe 200 100 1 - 4 7 4

Lehighton 025 401 x - 12 16 3

Goodchild and Mahmde; Miller, Craig (2) and Bergdahl. W - Craig. L - Goodchild.