Minersville's Cali Laudeman pitches to South Williamsport's Makiya Hills during a non-league softball game April 6, 2026, at Ken Schneck Field. Also pictured is Minersville catcher Sara McGrath. (Photo by Bob Lipsky)

MINERSVILLE — There are good innings.

There are big innings.

And then there’s what Minersville did to South Williamsport in a 20-5, three-inning victory Monday in a non-league softball game at Ken Schneck Field.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, the Battlin’ Miners scored 13 runs, sending 19 batters to the plate during the outburst. The first 12 batters who came to the plate not only reached base, but also scored.

When it was over, Minersville had 13 runs on seven hits. The inning also included six walks, a hit by pitch, two stolen bases, three errors, three wild pitches and one passed ball.

Minersville’s Grace Sterner singled twice and scored twice in the first inning alone. Sara McGrath and Cali Laudeman rapped two-run singles, while Sterner and Bella Cruz and Rilynn Brennan added RBI singles.

For the game, the Miners had 11 hits and 13 walks.

McGrath finished 2-for-2 with four runs scored and three RBIs for Minersville. Sterner went 2-for-3 with three runs and an RBI; Cali Laudeman went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Other top hitters for the Miners included Eila O’Brien, 1-for-3 with a two-run double, three runs and two RBIs; Bella Rizzardi, 1-for-2 with three RBIs and two runs scored; and Brennan, 1-for-1, two runs and two RBIs.

Fry, Jasper (3), Fry (3) and Holbrook; C. Laudeman and McGrath. W – C. Laudeman (3-1). L – Fry.

Hits: South Williamsport – Hills, Pinkerton 2, Fry, L. Brigandi, Harding. Minersville – Sterner 2, McGrath 2, O’Brien, Cruz, Rizzardi, C. Laudeman 2, Moyer, Brennan.

2B – Pinkerton, O’Brien. 3B – L. Brigandi.

Miners set ceremony to honor pioneer

MINERSVILLE — The late Billy Charles, a driving force in the creation of Minersville Little League girls’ softball and a high school assistant coach, will be honored during a ceremony Saturday.

The event will begin at approximately 10:30 a.m. at Ken Schneck Field at Minersville Area High School. Minersville will host Pottsville in a non-league game at 11 a.m.

Many former players are planning to attend and one of them, Cindy Connolly, is expected to be the main speaker. Players who came up through the initial Little League system later became standouts on back-to-back PIAA state championship teams in 1979 and 1980. Charles was an assistant at the varsity level from 1976-81.

Charles started the Minersville Little League girls’ program in 1974 and helped lead the teams to state and national acclaim in the 1970s and 1980s. Minersville has 15 Little League All-Star state championships and 10 PIAA state crowns at the high school level.