Little League Softball: Minersville suffers 1st defeat at states

Minersville lines up prior to its game against Towamencin Youth Association on Wednesday at the Pennsylvania State Softball Little League Major Division Tournament. (Submitted Photo)

NANTICOKE — Brooklyn Eillis hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth inning to lift Caln Township over Minersville 2-1 on Thursday in a winners’ bracket game at the Pennsylvania State Softball Little League Major Division Tournament at the Nanticoke Area Little League Field.

Minersville struck first against Caln Township, from Thorndale in Chester County. In the top of the first inning, Maddie Graver hit an RBI single to drive in Aly Heffron to give the Miners a 1-0 lead.

Caln Township knotted the score 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning. Piper Hudecheck’s sacrifice bunt drove in the tying run.

Minersville had four hits in the game. Payton Withelder, Lexi Toth, Heffron and Graver had one hit apiece. Graver added a stolen base.

Withelder went the distance in the circle for Minersville. She pitched five innings, allowing seven hits and two runs with two strikeouts and one walk. Withelder threw 75 pitches, 53 for strikes.

Hudecheck earned the win in the circle for Caln Township. She pitched six innings, allowing four hits and one run. She struck out six and walked two.

Isabella Kravec and Hope Conrad rapped two hits apiece for Caln Township. Conrad also stole two bases.

With the win, Caln Township advances to Saturday’s winners’ bracket final against the winner of a late game between St. Marys and Carbino Club (Valley View).

Minersville drops into the losers’ bracket to take on West Suburban of the Johnstown area at 7 p.m. Friday.

In elimination games Thursday, Bullskin Township routed Towamencin Youth Association 11-0, and West Suburban topped Stroudsburg 13-0.