Dawgs’ Shade notches victory No. 547

to become Schuylkill League softball’s all-time winningest coach

HEGINS — Marty Shade paused for a moment. … He collected himself.

Nearly overcome with emotion, Tri-Valley’s 35-year head coach stood along the third-base line at the high school field where he’s spent thousands of hours and began to put into words an achievement of a lifetime.

With the Bulldogs’ 13-6 victory over Marian in a Division II softball game Monday afternoon, Shade became the all-time winningest softball coach in Schuylkill League history. Shade improved to 547-212 (.721) to overtake his friend and rival, Minersville’s Ken Schneck, who went 546-103 (.841) over 26 seasons with the Big Blue Machine.

“It makes me think of Kenny a lot,” Shade said. “When I first started coaching, Kenny wasn’t the most-liked coach in the league because he beat everybody all the time, but for some reason, me and him hit it off right away. I always talked to him, and I have so much respect for him. His winning percentage and six state titles speak for itself. He’s an all-around good guy.

“When my mother was in a nursing home, Kenny was in a nursing home, too, near the end of his life,” Shade continued. “When I’d go visit my mom, I would always go in and visit Kenny. I’d always make him laugh, and he liked when I would brag his teams up.

“I’m proud of myself and thank God for letting me do this for so long, the school board and the administration for hiring me every year. I just like to coach. To me, Kenny Schneck is a legend. I’m just a coach that likes to coach. I still enjoy it. … I like the competitiveness.”

Shade’s Dawgs got plenty of competitiveness from a feisty Marian squad on a brilliant spring day in the Hegins Valley.

The Fillies (10-8, 6-7 D-II) got RBI singles from Kiki Wolfgang and Gracie Sendatch (3-for-4) in the fourth inning to cut Tri-Valley’s lead to 7-5. Marian finished with 11 hits as Emily Upanavage went 3-for-3 with a triple.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Dawgs (13-4, 10-2) found their power stroke. Winning pitcher Myah Schwalm slammed a two-run home run, and Lydia Rodichock followed with a solo shot to push the lead to 10-5. Schwalm finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs.

Ava Snyder’s two run single and Liv Witmer’s RBI single in the fifth inning extended the advantage to 13-5. Witmer went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and two RBIs, while Summer Cupsta went 4-for-4 with two runs and an RBI in the Dawgs’ 15-hit attack.

Tri-Valley’s win, combined with Minersville’s 2-1 victory over Williams Valley (15-3, 10-2), created a tie atop the Division II standings. Schuylkill Haven (13-6, 10-3) is just a half-game back.

Tri-Valley will visit Williams Valley at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in a game to be broadcast live on WPPA/A-106. The game will likely determine the Schuylkill League Division II champion.

This day, though, belonged to Shade, who also has two PIAA state championships to his credit. Remember, Shade amassed all of those victories playing in the same division with Schneck, Williams Valley’s Lee Reiser (405-118, .774 in 23 seasons) and Minersville’s Dave Homa (308-63, .830 in 16 seasons). The Dawgs, Vikings and Miners met each other twice — sometimes three times — each season.

“Some people, sometimes, question my coaching style, but to me, they’re high school girls,” Shade said. “And I want them to have fun, too. I’m not a real strict coach. I have my rules, but I like to see the girls have fun.

“It’s an honor to be mentioned with Kenny Schneck and Homa,” Shade added. “We had such battles with me, Homa, Schnecky and Reiser. We complained every year that only one team could go on (to states). It was tough, so competitive. Big crowds, rivalries. I love it.

“I’m blessed to be living in an area like this with such good kids,” he continued. “It’s an honor to coach Tri-Valley kids. Good parents and good administration, they’re good kids. … Overall, it’s just a great place to coach. I enjoy it.”

Game Summary

MARIAN (6) — Pugh ss 4 3 2 0, Sendatch lf 4 0 3 2, Treskolasky c 3 0 1 1, Letcher 3b 3 0 1 0, Upanavage cf-p 3 1 3 1, Birrer p-cf 4 1 0 0, Cannon 1b 3 0 0 0, Turrano 1b 1 0 0 0, Wolfgang 2b 3 1 1 1, Degler ph 1 0 0 0, Hopeck dp-rf 2 0 0 0, Sirkot rf 1 0 0 0. Totals 32 6 11 5.

TRI-VALLEY (13) — Leonard ss-p 3 3 1 0, Cupsta 2b 4 2 4 1, Witmer 3b 4 2 3 2, Schwalm p-ss 4 1 3 4, E. Snyder cr-lf 0 1 0 0, Rodichok c 3 1 1 2, Leese cr 0 0 0 0, Stiely lf 3 0 0 0, Lupole cf 4 2 1 0, Kramer rf 1 0 0 0, Tobin rf 2 1 1 0, A. Snyder dp 3 0 1 2, Lettich p 0 0 0 0. Totals 31 13 15 11.

Teams	123	456	7	—	Runs
Mar (10-8, 6-7)	101	301	0	—	6
TV (13-4, 10-2)	340	330	x	—	13

 

E — Marian 3, Tri-Valley 4

DP — Tri-Valley 1

LOB — Marian 8, Tri-Valley 4

2B — Pugh, Treskolasky, Sendatch, Lupole, Witmer

3B — Upanavage

HR — Schwalm, Rodichok

SB — Leonard 2, Cupsta

SAC — Treskolasky, Upanavage, Kramer

SF — Rodichok

Marian

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
Birrer L,6-4	4	13	13	10	1	1
Upanavage	2	2	0	0	0	1

Tri-Valley

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
Schwalm W,7-0	5.2	9	6	2	0	8
Leonard	1.1	1	0	0	0	4

Birrer pitched to 3 batters in the 5th.

HBP — by Schwalm (Letcher), by Birrer (Stiely). WP — Birrer 2. PB — Rodichok. T — 2:15.

 

Minersville 2, Williams Valley 1 

MINERSVILLE — Cali Laudeman pitched a complete-game four-hitter as Minersville held off Williams Valley in a Division II game at Ken Schneck Field.

Laudeman struck out one, walked none and got error-free defense behind her. At the plate, she singled and knocked in a run as Minersville took a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Grace Sterner, who went 2-for-3, drove in the other run for Minersville.

Megan Perhach tripled and scored a run for the Vikings.

 

Teams	123	456	7	—	Runs	Hits	Errors
WV (15-3, 10-2)	000	000	1	—	1	4	1
Min (12-7, 9-4)	020	000	x	—	2	5	0

Hand and Smeltz; C. Laudeman and McGrath. W – C. Laudeman (8-1). L – Hand (8-3).

Hits: Williams Valley – Bixler, Smeltz, Brill, Perhach. Minersville – Sterner 2, Rizzardi, O’Brien, C. Laudeman.

2B – Bixler. 3B – Perhach.

Schuylkill Haven 15, Weatherly 0

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Alli Scherer pitched a three-inning perfect game to lead Schuylkill Haven to a Division II win over Weatherly. Scherer struck out eight and walked none. At the plate, she helped herself by going 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBIs.

The Hurricanes got contributions up and and down the lineup. Other top hitters included Kaitlyn Russo, 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs and one RBI; Aisley Jenan, 2-for-2 with a triple, three runs and one RBI; Lexi Mull, 2-for-2 with a triple, two runs and two RBIs; and Braelynn Strenkoski, 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI.

 

Teams	123			—	Runs	Hits	Errors
Wea (7-10, 4-9)	000			—	0	0	2
SH (13-6, 10-3)	663			—	15	13	0

Binder and Makowiec; Scherer and Jenan. W – Scherer (6-4). L – Binder (7-10).

Hits: Weatherly – None. Schuylkill Haven – Scherer 2, Russo 2, Schoffstall, Jenan 2, Mull 2, Suprick, Strenkoski 2, Houvig.

2B – Suprock, Houvig. 3B – Russo, Mull, Jenan.

North Schuylkill 7, Pottsville 6

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — Monica Selgrade and Jordanna Frie hit two-run home runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally North Schuylkill to a Division I victory over Pottsville at Dot Seidel Field.

After Brigid Flynn doubled, Selgrade’s blast cut the Crimson Tide’s lead to 6-5. Gianna Capone doubled, and Frie delivered a walk-off, two-run homer. Selgrade finished the day 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored; Frie went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run.

Flynn added a 3-for-4 day with two doubles and two runs for the Spartans.

For Pottsville, Peyton Eckert went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBIs. Cadence Borger hit a solo homer and scored twice for the Tide.

 

Teams	123	456	7	—	Runs	Hits	Errors
Po (10-8, 7-5)	100	210	2	—	6	7	2
NS (14-4, 10-3)	200	010	4	—	7	12	6

Eckert and Wessner; Flynn and Capone. W – Flynn (12-4). L – Eckert (9-8).

Hits: Pottsville – Siminitus, Yost, Borger, Eckert 2, Wessner, Barnhart. North Schuylkill – Flynn 3, Selgrade 3, Capone, Frie 3, Croker, Miscannon.

2B – Eckert, Wessner, Flynn 2, Capone, Miscannon. HR – Eckert, Borger, Selgrade, Frie.

Pine Grove Area 18, Panther Valley 0 

LANSFORD — Jamie Dinger and Chelcy Clark combined on a two-hit shutout as Pine Grove Area defeated Panther Valley in Division I action.

Dinger went the first three innings, allowing no hits, striking out six and walking none. Clark hurled the final four innings, allowing two hits while striking out one and walking one.

Once again, Callee Leffler held the hot bat for the Cardinals. She went 3-for-4 with a triple, two home runs, five RBIs and three runs scored. Leffler has seven triples and 11 home runs this season.

Dinger added a homer and two RBIs for Pine Grove Area.

The Cards finished with 14 hits. Lily Flynn went 2-for-2 with a double, four runs scored and two RBIs; Khloe Jessman went 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs; and Tailyn Bohr went 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Pine Grove Area will host Blue Mountain at 7 p.m. Tuesday in a game to be broadcast live on WPPA/A-106. The game will likely determine the Schuylkill League Division I champion.

 

Teams	123	456	7	—	Runs	Hits	Errors
PGA (18-1, 12-1)	212	022	9	—	18	14	1
PV (9-10, 3-10)	000	000	0	—	0	2	7

Dinger, Clark (4) and Bohr; Goida and Breiner. W – Clark (7-0). L – Goida (1-7).

Hits: Pine Grove Area – Leffler 3, Aungst, Dinger, Flynn 2, Jessman 2, Bohr 2, Behrent, Schneck, Morgan. Panther Valley – Prudente, D’Ancona.

2B – Flynn. 3B – Leffler. HR – Leffler 2, Dinger.

Blue Mountain 15, Lourdes 0 

ORWIGSBURG — Ava Sweigert and Abby Phillips combined on a one-hit shutout as Blue Mountain defeated Lourdes in a Division I game at Patton Field.

Sweigert pitched the first two innings, striking out two; Phillips fanned two in her one inning of work. Sweigert helped the cause with a double and three RBIs.

Karley Koch went 2-for-2 with a double, three runs and two RBIs for the Eagles. Hailey Placed added a 2-for-3 day with two runs and one RBI.

 

Teams	123			—	Runs	Hits	Errors
Lou (0-18, 0-13)	000			—	0	1	4
BM (18-1, 11-1)	861			—	15	8	1

Cherry and Adams; Sweigert, Phillips (3) and Frie. W – Sweigert (2-0). L – Cherry (0-3).

Hits: Lourdes – Adams. Blue Mountain – Fishburn, Manbeck, Borden, Place 2, Koch 2, Sweigert.

2B – Sweigert, Koch.

Mahanoy Area 6, Tamaqua 5 

MAHANOY CITY — Hailey Mroczka slugged an inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift Mahanoy Area to a Division I win over Tamaqua. Mroczka finished the day 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Cadance Poslosky pitched three innings of one-run ball to earn the win in the circle.

Naomi Kowalick went 3-for-3 with a triple, two runs and two RBIs for the Golden Bears.

Mia Bamford went 3-for-4 with a double for the Blue Raiders. Paige Bumbulsky went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

 

Teams	123	456	7	—	Runs	Hits	Errors
Tam (9-10, 4-9)	210	100	1	—	5	10	0
Mah (8-10, 4-9)	201	020	1	—	6	7	1

Faust, Bumbulsky (5) and Evans; Carl, Poslosky (5) and Mroczka. W – Poslosky (2-2). L – Bumbulsky (0-2).

Hits: Tamaqua – Conahan, Faust, Gormley, Bumbulsky 2, Evans, Bamford 3, Sitlinger. Mahanoy Area – Poslosky, Mroczka 2, Kowalick 3, Killian.

2B – Bumbulsky, Bamford, Conahan. 3B – Evans, Kowalick. HR – Mroczka.

Nativity 18, Shenandoah Valley 6

SHENANDOAH — Lauren Clark went 4-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs to lead Nativity to a Division II victory over Shenandoah Valley at Bicentennial Park.

The Golden Girls finally put the game away with a six-run seventh inning.

Macie Rushannon went 3-for-5 with three runs and an RBI; Chloe Covell went 3-for-5 with a double, one run and one RBI; and Anna Jansson went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored for Nativity. Ava Stankavage added a 2-for-4 day with a double, two runs and two RBIs, while Emily Lorence went 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.

For Shenandoah Valley, Aubrie Monaghan went 3-for-3 with three runs and three RBIs. Giana Troutman went 2-for-5 with a triple and two runs for the Blue Devils. Jocelyn Chagolla, Brynn Burke and Sherlyn Tejeda rapped two hits apiece for Shenandoah Valley,.

 

Teams	123	456	7	—	Runs	Hits	Errors
Nat (4-15, 2-11)	103	512	6	—	18	19	2
SV (1-18, 0-13)	130	002	0	—	6	14	7

Stankavage and Lorence; Troutman and Chagolla. W – Stankavage (3-11). L – Troutman (0-6).

Hits: Nativity – Krapf, Rushannon 3, Clark 4, Jansson 3, Covell 3, Stankavage 2, Ricard, Lorence 2. Shenandoah Valley – Troutman 2, Monaghan 3, Zulkowski, Chagolla 2, McClafferty, Burke 2, Tejeda 2, Miscannon.

2B – Covell, Krapf, Stankavage. 3B – Troutman.