There was no let-up from Freedom’s bats in the Patriot softball team’s 16-6 victory over city rival Liberty on April 9 at Freedom.

“It definitely feels good, and I know that our girls made a statement today,” said Freedom coach Michele Laubach.

Freedom fell to Liberty three times last year, but the Patriots learned their lesson for this year’s first meeting.

“(Liberty pitcher Addy) Smith beat us three times last year, so we knew we’re not chasing, we’re not chasing, we’re not chasing. You throw a lot of pitches, you’re getting tired out there,” Coach Laubach said. “Nams (Freedom pitcher Namelia Duro) had a low pitch count, and it helped us today.”

Freedom batted through the lineup, scoring four runs in the bottom of the third inning, but Duro’s one-two-three inning in the top of the fourth provided no rest for Liberty’s Smith.

The Patriots posted four more runs in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 11-4, highlighted by Freedom shortstop Brooklyn Pronovich’s 3-run homer, her second home run of the day.

“The first one came right off the bat. I knew that was going over,” Pronovich said. “I definitely watched that one because as soon as it came off the barrel, I knew it was way over the fence. The second one, I was a little iffy with, but it ended up making it out. Last year, we didn’t beat them once, so I knew today, we had to step it up. I had to step it up. Last game (against Liberty last year), I was the last out, so I knew I had to do some damage today.”

Duro ended the damage with a 2 RBI double that put a finish to the city rivalry game in mercy rule after five innings.

“I just said to the girls, ‘You have to be in on every pitch because this game is going to be back and forth. This game is about guts, and it’s about pride,’” Laubach said. “That’s really what it is, two good teams battling back and forth, and then once [Smith] started struggling with her pitches and started drawing quite a bit of walks, then it was like, OK, now we’ve got to kind of knock her out.”

Freedom and Liberty exchanged runs for the first three innings with the Hurricanes scoring first on Leah Onia’s RBI.

The Patriots tied the game on Maia D’Amico’s sacrifice fly.

Two runs scored for Liberty in the second inning on a Freedom error, but Pronovich’s home run, followed by Landry Guman’s homer tied the game, 3-3.

“Landry has a lot of power, but back-to-back home runs? That’s great for our team, and great for us to get the excitement and energy going,” Pronovich said.

Liberty went ahead in the top of the third inning on Onia’s solo home run to right center.

Then, in the bottom of the third, Aly Laubach’s RBI double tied the game, 4-4, and with the bases loaded, Freedom added three more runs in the inning.

The Patriots loaded the bases again in the bottom of the fifth inning after Payton Besecker’s walk, Brooke Rummel’s double to right center, and D’Amico’s walk. Hannah Heidemann and Siara Gonzalez had RBI singles capped off by Duro’s double to end the game.