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Avon Grove's Balint thrives on tough day for a pitcher

Maggie Balint called it, "a batter's day to hit one out of the park." On a Friday afternoon with gusts of wind blowing in the pitcher's face, the Avon Grove junior's assessment seemed accurate. Especially knowing the personnel on both sides.

Maggie Balint called it, "a batter's day to hit one out of the park."

On a Friday afternoon with gusts of wind blowing in the pitcher's face, the Avon Grove junior's assessment seemed accurate. Especially knowing the personnel on both sides.

"It was not going to be a pitcher's day," Balint said.

Her stats tell a different story.

She struck out 15, allowing four hits, walking none, and hitting one batter, as the Red Devils defeated visiting West Chester Henderson, 4-2, in a Ches-Mont National softball game.

"It definitely was a struggle for both sides today," Balint said. "When we talked before the game we said, 'At least it is on both sides - if the ball drops, it is going to drop for both of us."

It was another dominant performance for the Red Devils standout, who has made a habit of fooling hitters the last two years.

Balint has struck out 164, walked 13 and given up three earned runs. Through 11 games, the righthander has an earned-run average of 0.27. She has allowing 22 total hits in 78 innings.

"I felt that my ball wasn't moving as fast as it normally does, just because the wind was going against me," Balint said.

The movement may have been a bit off, and the speed not as fast, but Balint was still in great command. Her rise ball was effective, and then there was the movement on her screwball.

"A couple girls were jumping," Balint said. "So that was good."

Avon Grove (10-2, 6-2) jumped on the Warriors (5-8, 3-3) early, getting three runs in the top of the first.

Rachel Butler knocked in the first run with a single to right-center. Good at-bats from Alli Wallauer and Madison Porter brought Balint and Alyssa Herion home.

"I love seeing the freshmen come up big," Herion said. "That kind of stuff makes me excited for the program."

While Balint was dealing, Henderson was able to use small ball to generate some offense in the fourth. Kasey Collins and Carly Bullock both put down great bunts to move the runners before Sam Fouracre's two-run single.

But the difference for Grove was the patient and smart approach at the plate.

The Red Devils earned six walks.

"We all feel like we are the team to beat this year," Herion said. "We want to show that."

Just wait until it is actually a day Balint considers one for the pitchers.

W.C. Henderson 000 200 0 - 2 4 0

Avon Grove 301 000 x - 4 3 2

WP: Maggie Balint. LP: Megan Butts.