PIAA Softball: Pine Grove shuts out Mid Valley in Class 3A semifinal
Pine Grove players stream out of the dugout to join the celebration after the Cardinals defeated Mid Valley 3-0 on Monday in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal at Hazleton Area High School. (Photo by Bob Lipsky)
HAZLE TOWNSHIP — Next stop, State College!
Pine Grove’s softball team is going to the state finals!
With a flawless gameplan, flawless execution and a flawless mindset, the Cardinals defeated Mid Valley 3-0 on Monday in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal on the artificial turf at Hazleton Area High School.
The win advances District 11 champion Pine Grove (26-2) into the third state championship game in school history. The Cardinals finished second in 2017 and capped an undefeated season in 2019 with the program’s first state title.
The opponent will be familiar foe Bald Eagle Area (22-3). The District 6 champion Eagles blanked District 3 champion and previously unbeaten Susquenita 5-0 in the other semifinal Monday.
Championship game time is 1:30 p.m. Friday at Penn State’s Nittany Lion Softball Park.
To get there, Pine Grove had to find a way past a formidable foe in District 2 champion Mid Valley (22-4).
The Spartanettes featured a powerhouse offense that averaged 10.5 runs per game, had five .400 hitters and bashed 32 home runs in just 25 games. Pine Grove sophomore right-hander Jamie Dinger and her defense allowed just two singles. Mid Valley did not get a runner to third base all day.
The Spartanettes also featured sophomore ace pitcher Ava Hazleton, who allowed less than three hits per game and racked up nine strikeouts per outing. The Cardinals clubbed seven hits — including four doubles and a triple — and struck out just four times against the right-hander.
“We practiced Saturday and Sunday,” Pine Grove coach Ryan Leffler said. “We went to North Schuylkill on Sunday — thank them — we were up there in the rain for two hours. These kids are determined to do whatever it takes to get the W.”
From the start, Dinger dominated the Mid Valley lineup. She retired the first nine batters she faced, then set down the final nine to end the game. She faced just one batter over the minimum while striking out seven and walking none. She needed just 76 pitches — 56 strikes — in the gem.
“I felt really good going back into the circle,” Dinger said. “Having everything on my shoulders, I slowed the game down.”
Dinger mixed a live fastball with a baffling changeup and spun pitches to all corners of the strike zone. As the game wore on and Dinger posted zero after zero on the scoreboard, frustration grew for the Mid Valley hitters.
“She was dealing awesome,” catcher Tailyn Bohr said. “Absolutely. Jamie’s pitches were right there. I could feel the tension (in Mid Valley’s batters).”
To back their pitcher, Pine Grove made a half dozen highlight defensive plays. A huge one came in the first inning when left fielder Nicole Morgan snagged a line drive off the bat of Elise Larson that seemed destined for extra bases. Later, Morgan made a fine running catch of a shallow fly ball.
Meanwhile, first baseman Madison Shiffer picked two low throws off a bounce on the artificial turf to turn potential throwing errors into groundouts.
The biggest defensive play came from one of Pine Grove’s smallest players, Bohr.
Clinging to a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning, Mid Valley’s Krista Cortazar led off with a single to center field. Dinger responded by striking out slugger Mackenzie Adolfson (11 homers) on three pitches. On strike three, Cortazar took off for second base. In a split second, Bohr fired a strike to shortstop Hannah Aungst, who applied the tag for a rally-killing double play. Mid Valley didn’t get a baserunner the rest of the way.
“Stuff like that is definitely important,” Bohr said. “We work hard for it throughout the season. You can’t do it without our awesome defense. Hannah Aungst, our shortstop, was there for the tag. She did an awesome job.”
Added Ryan Leffler: “T doesn’t look big, but buddy, she’s quick. Credit to her for making a great throw.”
Meanwhile, Pine Grove’s offense produced baserunners in five of the six innings in which it batted.
