Despite the tight victory, none of the Panthers were willing to accept praise.
"I learned you are only as good as your weakest player," Chiaruttini said. "We don't recognize weakness on this team. Adrienne (Kesecker) was really on today. But Katie's (Golden) catch in centerfield was a real gamemaker."
"My defense played a great game," Kesecker said, deflecting praise for her performance. "Aimee Barton was really smooth at short, but everyone played so well."
After the first, both teams settled in for a battle of tough defense, clutch pitching and some spectacular plays.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, Boonsboro designated hitter Katie Sirbaugh drove a liner to deep right-center. Golden got a late jump on the ball but closed the gap quickly, making a basket catch after colliding with rightfielder Ashley Creek. Both players tumbled to the ground, but Golden maintained possession of the ball to preseve the win.
"That play typifies the attitude of these kids," Hancock coach Heather Creek said. "Katie focused and came up big for us. But there were enough pats on the back to go around for everyone."
Some of those pats were sent over to Boonsboro even in the loss as both coaches had reason to be happy about their teams after the first full week of action.
"We hit the ball a little better tonight," Creek said. "There are some things we will be doing better next week, like sliding and baserunning, but this was a good win for us."
"I'm pleased with Brittany Harbaugh and Kourtney Marshall at the plate," Boonsboro coach John O'Neal said. "They are disappointed, I'm sure, but things will start to work for them.
"We are working hard together as a group. At this point, it is a marathon and not a sprint."
