ORWIGSBURG – Jim Thorpe’s softball team showed little effects Tuesday of being dominated by Blue Mountain during the regular Schuylkill League softball season.

And for three plus innings at James F. Patton Stadium, the Olympians were feeling right in the thick of their District 11 Class 4A quarterfinal game against the Eagles.

Then things started to sour.

Blue Mountain (13-6) shortened up its swings, put the ball in play, and by the time the fifth inning ended, Thorpe (5-16) had suffered an 11-1 defeat.

Looking at the final score, it wouldn’t seem like the Olympians were stride for stride with the Eagles. But thanks to a sterling effort from hurler Amanda Goodchild, and a fourth-inning run when Nadya Soliman singled, stole second and came home on an error, Jim Thorpe only trailed by a 2-1 margin.

“I like the way we played for the most part,” said Olympian head coach Lori Lienhard. “We were aggressive at the plate; Amanda was throwing strikes and we had a good flow going.”

The Eagles soared on top thanks to a two-run home run from Paige Laughlin, who drove in Elle Walasavage, who had singled with two outs in the third.

Blue Mountain finally took charge in the fourth with a seven-run uprising, putting together five hits in the rally.

“We got more patient, and we started to (shorten up) our swings,” said Blue Mountain mentor Mike Rollmen. “I thought (Goodchild) had some really nice stuff, she was around the plate and she kept us off balance for the most part.”

The Eagles sent 11 batters to the plate, receiving hits from Mattea Dayson, Paige Bergan, Autumn Handwerk, Ava Peel and Loughlin. That shoved the Eagles into a commanding 9-2 lead.

“We just never could recover from that (rally),” Lienhard said. “But you know, I liked the way our kids battled. They were right there; they were competing right up until that final inning.”

The final frame ended up being the fifth when a two-run rally ended the game via the 10-run rule. Blue Mountain didn’t get a hit in the final two-run rally, instead using a walk, an error and two wild pitches.

“It’s tough to lose, but, hey, we made some great strides and I know it will help us next (season),” Lienhard said.

THORPE ATTACK … The Olympians were disciplined early on at the plate, as they worked the counts on winning pitcher Marla Friewald. In all, Thorpe had just two singles; one each from Trista Gehris and Soliman.

WEB GEMS … Goodchild had a great play in the circle off a batted ball to peg out a runner. In the second, Thorpe center fielder Christy McLean and right fielder Taylor Mordaunt came up with nice snags on fly outs.

ANDY THE MAN … Home plate umpire Andy Harvan kept the game running smoothly and made it fun for the backstoppers with words of encouragement.

Jim Thorpe 000 10 - 1 2 2

Blue Mountain 002 72 - 11 10 2

Goodchild, Rohrman (4) and Mahmde; Friewald and Berger. W - Friewald. L - Goodchild. HR: Blue Mountain - Laughlin (3rd, one on).