HS Softball: Tri-Valley rallies past North Schuylkill in Schuylkill League semifinals
Tri-Valley assistant coach Brett Reed hits infield as Lydia Rodichok catches prior to Thursday's Schuylkill League softball semifinal against North Schuylkill at Dot Seidel Field. (Photo by Bob Lipsky)
FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — Two weeks ago, Tri-Valley didn’t know which way its season would go.
The Bulldogs had gotten hammered at Williams Valley, then suffered a decisive loss to a rising Tamaqua squad.
Sure, the Dawgs would be part of the Schuylkill League playoffs. But how would they fare?
How about earning a spot in the championship game.
After a victory over Tamaqua in the quarterfinals, Tri-Valley knocked off Division I champion North Schuylkill 4-3 on Thursday in a Schuylkill League softball semifinal at Dot Seidel Field.
The Dawgs (16-5) return to the Schuylkill League championship game for the second straight season. They won their third league title in 2022, then dropped a 6-5 decision in nine innings to Blue Mountain in last year’s final.
This time around, Tri-Valley will face Division I runner-up Pine Grove, which outlasted Williams Valley 14-5 in the second semifinal at Dot Seidel Field. The Cardinals (20-2) are back in the league final for the first time since 2021, when they lost to North Schuylkill 9-2. Pine Grove has won Schuylkill League gold five times since the playoffs returned in 2009: (2010, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2019).
The championship game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday at Blue Mountain’s Patton Field. Should rain make the field unplayable, the contest would be rescheduled for Saturday afternoon at a site and time to be announced. Listen to WPPA and T102 and watch t102sportsnow.com for updates.
“It always goes back to what Mr. (Dave) Homa (of Minersville) said years ago: ‘The Schuylkill League gets you ready for the playoffs,’ ” Tri-Valley coach Marty Shade said. “And this was just a typical Schuylkill League game. I’m so proud of my kids, the way they fought back. A couple weeks ago, we sort of got our butts handed to us over at Williams Valley. To make it to the Schuylkill League championship game against the Division I schools, I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
Tri-Valley got off to a great start as senior Cassi Snyder lined the first pitch of the game to left field for a single. She stole second and scored on an RBI single by senior Mady Schwalm for a 1-0 lead.
Meanwhile, senior Kora Rodichok hurled a complete game in the circle. She held the Spartans (15-4) to just four hits while striking out three and walking one. She retired the leadoff batter in 6-of-7 innings and had four 1-2-3 frames.
“Kora did a fantastic job today, throwing strikes,” Shade said. “And our defense played good behind her. … The seniors did a great job today of keeping the team fired up.”
Still, North Schuylkill got to Kora Rodichok in the second inning to take a 3-1 lead. Jordanna Frie roped a one-out double, and one out later, she scored on Mallorie Croker’s RBI single. Gianna Capone followed with an RBI double and later scored on an error.
Kora Rodichok kept the Spartans in check the rest of the way, retiring 16 of the final 18 batters she faced. North Schuylkill hit several balls hard, but often they went right to Tri-Valley fielders for outs.
“I try to remind myself that my fielders have my back,” Kora Rodichock said. “I know they’re going to hit the ball, but we’ll be able to field it and get them out and come in and hit some more.”
Tri-Valley, which finished with nine hits, chipped away and eventually overtook the Spartans.
In the fourth inning, Savanah Stiely smacked a one-out double and scored on Lydia Rodichok’s RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-2.
In the fifth, Alina Leonard led off with an infield single, and one out later, Liv Witmer singled. When North Schuylkill missed the cutoff, Witmer motored up a base to put runners at second and third. Myah Schwalm followed with a two-run single to right field to put the Dawgs on top.
“We had to keep the team positive and fired up for every game,” Kora Rodichok said. “Overall, I think we do a very good job of that.
“It feels great to be here,” Rodichok added. “It will be a good game tomorrow and we’ll do our best to stay positive.”
