COLUMBUS — It was exactly the duel you would expect between the two hardest throwers in the area who will be pitching on the D-1 level once they graduate from high school next year.

The difference was while Northern Burlington was solid defensively and at times did a pretty good job of putting the ball in play, Burlington Township did not.

The result was a 2-0 victory for Northern Burlington (1-1) in its first action since a stunning-opening day defeat and a revenge victory over Burlington Township (3-2) from last year.

Getting the win was flamethrower Haylei Archer, who came within one infield single in the sixth inning of a no-hitter and ended up with 13 strikeouts.

Following the game, Archer indicated Texas A&M and Stanford are the two leading contenders for where she will pitch next.

Burlington Township fireballer Bailey Enoch took the loss but you can hardly hang the it on her. Already committed to the strong Fordham University program, Enoch threw a five-hitter, struck out nine and yielded just two unearned runs.

How unearned were the Northern Burlington runs in the bottom of the first inning?

Consider they came on two infield hits and four Burlington Township errors.

It started with Nicole Bondoc leading off with an infield single. She then took off for second on a steal attempt and after the throw from the catcher was high, it also got past the Township center fielder. The two errors allowed Bondoc to race all the way from first to home plate.

The second Northern Burlington run was of a similar variety. After Julia Mayernik reached on an error, Madison Sisz put a ball down in the infield that also went as a hit. On the throw to first the ball sailed high and rolled down the right field line. This allowed Mayernik to also score all the way from first to home on the same play.

With the way Archer was dealing the two runs proved to be more than enough. Township only got two runners in scoring position and one of them came after a fly ball was dropped in the outfield.

Between losing to Enoch by the score of 1-0 last year and having to wait 10 days after losing this season's opener because of cancellations, Northern Burlington just couldn't wait to return to its winning ways after last year's 23-3 season.

"Because of having to wait (since our first game) we were all excited to play," said Archer. "We also have been thinking about the game we lost to them last year every since."

Northern Burlington faces two huge games Saturday at the Mt. St. Dominic Tournament when it takes on Donovan Catholic and North Hunterdon. If Thursday's game was any indication, Archer looks ready.

"Somewhere in the high 60s," said Archer when asked what she has been clocked at of late. "I would say probably around 69 (mph). I also have been working on spinning the ball better and my rise ball."

You just very rarely see pitching of this caliber by two teams on the high school level.

Burl. Twp. (3-2) 000 000 0 - 0 1 5

No. Burl. (1-1) 200 000 0 - 2 5 1

WP-Archer. LP-Enoch.