Emily Cecchini plays with no fear.

Cecchini, a Liberty High senior headed to the U.S. Naval Academy, plays the third base position down the line toward the batter's box. The ball gets to her in a hurry, but she doesn't care.

"I'd rather be on attack than stay back," Cecchini said.

Against Northampton on Monday, Cecchini made an error on the very first batter of the game.

But she came back to handle four chances flawlessly, snaring three line drives, to lead a defensive effort that carried the Hurricanes to an important 7-3 win over the visiting Konkrete Kids.

The win boosted Liberty's chances of making next week's Lehigh Valley Conference tournament.

The Hurricanes are 13-3 overall, 9-3 in the league, where they are even in the loss column with Bethlehem Catholic for first place in the LVC East and also knotted up with Northampton (14-4, 9-3) for a potential wild-card spot.

Liberty plays Easton on Tuesdayand Freedom on Thursday, while the Konkrete Kids still must play Parkland and Nazareth.

"This was a big game for both of us," Hurricanes coach Rich Giering said. "Nothing's going to come easy. We play Easton next and they're fighting for a District 11 spot. This year you really have to take it one at a game."

Liberty's last game didn't go so well a 7-2 loss to Bethlehem Catholic on Friday.

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