District 11 Softball: Minersville, Williams Valley capture Class AA semifinal victories
Minersville's Grace Sterner warms up prior to an at-bat Friday against Schuylkill Haven in the District 11 Class AA semifinals at Pine Grove's Susan Y. Stump Field. Sterner had two hits and three RBIs in the Miners' 4-2 victory. (Photo by Bob Lipsky)
PINE GROVE — During pregame warmups, Minersville’s players wear shirts that have one word emblazoned on the back.
That word: “Believe.”
When the Miners started the season 1-5, they continued to believe. When they hit some roadblocks in losses to Tri-Valley, Blue Mountain, Schuylkill Haven, Pottsville and Williams Valley, they continued to believe. And now, that belief has put them in the District 11 Class AA championship game.
Eila O’Brien pitched a complete game and Grace Sterner drove in three runs to lead third-seeded Minersville past No. 2 Schuylkill Haven 4-2 on Friday in a District 11 Class AA semifinal at Pine Grove’s Susan Y. Stump Field.
“They’re the ones that put the work in. I’m there to support them all the way,” first-year Minersville coach Kate Rittenbaugh said. “They’re believing in it and trusting in what we bring to the table. I’m just proud of them.”
After falling twice to Schuylkill Haven (15-7) during the regular season, Minersville (10-11) turned the tables in the game that mattered most.
The Miners led from start to finish. They took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on Sterner’s sacrifice fly and Payton Frantz’s two-out RBI single.
The Hurricanes got a run back in the bottom of the third on Allie Scherer’s RBI groundout, but O’Brien pitched out of trouble to keep the lead.
For the game, O’Brien allowed just five hits and stranded Schuylkill Haven runners at second and third in both the third and fourth innings.
Minersville also played terrific defense behind its pitcher. In the second inning, O’Brien snagged a line drive off the bat of Aisley Jenan, wheeled and fired to shortstop Bella Rizzardi for an inning-ending double play. Frantz, the first baseman, scooped some balls out of the dirt to save errors and record outs.
Minersville got some much-needed insurance in the fourth inning when Sterner roped a two-out, two-run single to center field. No. 8 batter Ava Long set the table all day, going 2-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored.
“I always just try to stay positive every time I step up to the plate,” Sterner said. “I’m always looking for my pitch. I try to stay calm.”
Schuylkill Haven’s Nickie Domermuth slugged a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but O’Brien recorded the final out to book Minersville’s trip to the final.
Next up for the Miners is a meeting with long-time rival Williams Valley. The top-seeded Vikings took care of No. 4 Mahanoy Area 13-1 in the second Class AA semifinal Friday night at Pine Grove. The championship game will be Tuesday at a site and time to be announced.
Minersville will be seeking its 24th District 11 championship. Williams Valley has won 13 district titles.
“We’ve been pushing positivity all season. … I try to stick in the girls’ heads that we have to stay positive, we have to work together, and that’s how we pulled it out,” Sterner said.
“This is great,” Sterner added. “We lost something like six starters from last year, so we had to build up from the bottom. Having so many new starters, we really just worked together and stayed positive all season. So I’m proud of all of us.”
Game Summary
District 11 Class AA Semifinal
At Susan Y. Stump Field, Pine Grove
MINERSVILLE (4) — Sterner 2b 3 0 2 3, Rizzardi ss 2 0 0 0, Frantz 1b 4 0 1 1, O’Brien p 4 0 0 0, Cruz lf 2 0 0 0, McGrath c 3 0 0 0, Brennan cf 3 1 1 0, Long 3b 2 2 2 0, Kopinetz dp 3 1 1 0, Plesnarski rf 0 0 0 0. Totals 26 4 7 4.
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN (2) — A. Scherer p 4 0 0 1, Wehr ss 3 0 1 0, Becker cf 3 0 0 0, E. Scherer lf 2 0 1 0, Schoffstall 1b 3 0 1 0, Jenan 3b 3 0 0 0, Russo 2b 2 0 0 0, Line rf 2 1 0 0, Domermuth c 3 1 2 1, Bayliff cr 0 0 0 0. Totals 25 2 5 2.
Min (10-11) 002 200 0 — 4
SH (15-7) 001 000 1 — 2
E — Minersville 2, Schuylkill Haven 1
DP — Minersville 1
LOB — Minersville 6, Schuylkill Haven 5
HR — Domermuth
SAC — Rizzardi, Russo
SF — Sterner
Minersville
IP H R ER BB K
O’Brien W,4-9 7 5 2 2 2 4
Schuylkill Haven
IP H R ER BB K
A.Scherer L,7-3 7 7 4 4 3 6
T — 1:44.
Williams Valley 13, Mahanoy Area 1
PINE GROVE — Williams Valley’s lineup has no weaknesses.
The top-seeded Vikings proved that yet again Friday night, using patience and pop to oust No. 4 Mahanoy Area in the nightcap of a District 11 Class AA softball doubleheader at Susan Y. Stump Field.
Williams Valley (20-2) bunched eight hits and nine walks to score in every inning against the Golden Bears (7-14).
Mahanoy Area, though, actually took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. With two outs, Naomi Kowalick singled and Hailey Mroczka followed with an RBI double to right-center.
The lead didn’t last long.
Williams Valley answered with two runs in the bottom of the first on RBI groundouts by Quin Smeltz and Audrina Fry.
The Vikings struck out just once and took extra bases every time the opportunity arose. Every starter reached base at least once.
Williams Valley kept tacking on runs and steadily pulled away.
The Vikings broke the game open with a five-run third inning to take an 8-1 lead. Olivia Hand belted an RBI triple, and Ally Underkoffler followed with an RBI single to provide some breathing room.
Another five-run inning followed in the fourth inning., Kayla Hand’s three-run double to right field was the key hit. Hand finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a run scored.
“I knew I had to be patient at the plate, and I had to wait for my pitch,” Kayla Hand said. “When I found it, I just wanted to hit it and run for a while.
“Everybody has to do their part,” she added. “It’s amazing to be part of a team that can do everything.”
