Spartans stun NW Lehigh

as 7 area squads advance to D-11 finals

ORWIGSBURG — Relentless.

That adjective best describes Schuylkill Haven’s back-and-forth, emotion-filled, 8-5 victory over Minersville in a District 11 Class AA semifinal Friday night at Patton Field.

The Hurricanes scored in 5-of-6 innings when they batted, and they put at least one runner on base in every inning. Minersville stayed close throughout, but Schuylkill Haven capitalized on a few more opportunities to hold on for the victory.

With the win, Schuylkill Haven advanced to the championship game to take on Williams Valley, a 14-1 winner over Mahanoy Area in the other semifinal. The final will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Pine Grove.

The Hurricanes start one senior, two juniors, three sophomores and three freshmen. Reaching the district final is uncharted territory for this group of players.

“I have so many freshmen that they have no idea. … It’s a compliment, but they don’t know,” Schuylkill Haven coach Garry Adams said. “They just go in and play ball. They have been united. I have not seen a team not cause any drama the whole time. They stay with each other. They cheer each other on, and that was an example tonight.

“I was a little concerned in the beginning because both teams were fired up,” Adams added. “It was just a matter of waiting for one team to crack, and in reality neither team cracked. They kept fighting the whole night.”

Sara McGrath gave Minersville a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the top of the first inning.

Schuylkill Haven answered with two in the second inning on Danica Snyder’s RBI double and Braelynn Strencoski’s safety squeeze bunt.

Lexi Mull’s RBI double and an error helped the Hurricanes lead 4-2 after three innings.

In the fourth, Alli Scherer and Kaitlyn Russo (3-for-4) belted back-to-back RBI doubles as Haven’s lead grew to 6-2.

Just when it looked like the Hurricanes gained control, back came the Miners. Bella Cruz smacked a tw0-run triple to right field to cut the deficit to 6-4. Cruz (2-for-4) added an RBI double in the seventh inning for Minersville, which finished with 11 hits.

The Hurricanes did just a little better with their bats, compiling 13 hits and working three walks. That allowed them to add on throughout the night. Scherer finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored; Aisley Jenan went 2-for-3 with three runs scored; Mull posted a 3-for-4 game with a double, two RBIs and a run scored; and Strenkoski went 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Eight of Haven’s nine starters had a hit, a run scored — or both.

Game Summary

District 11 Class AA Semifinal

At Patton Field, Orwigsburg

MINERSVILLE (5) — Sterner 2b 4 2 2 0, Brennan cf 4 1 2 0, McGrath c 4 2 2 1, Rizzardi ss 4 0 0 1, Cruz lf 4 0 2 3, O’Brien dp-1 4 0 2 0, P. Laudeman 3b 2 0 0 0, C. Laudeman p-dp 3 0 1 0, Tripp rf 3 0 0 0, Herb 1b 0 0 0 0. Totals 32 5 11 5.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN (8) — Scherer p 4 1 2 1, Russo 2b 4 1 3 1, Schoffstall ss 4 1 0 0, Jenan 3b 3 3 2 0, Mull 1b 4 1 3 2, Snyder lf 3 0 1 1, Strenkoski c 2 0 2 2, Randazzo cr 0 0 0 0, Wade rf 3 0 0 0, Houvig cf 2 1 0 0. Totals 29 8 13 7.

Teams	123	456	7	—	Runs
Min (12-9)	101	020	1	—	5
SH (15-7)	022	211	x	—	8

E — Minersville 1, Schuylkill Haven 1

DP — None

LOB — Minersville 7, Schuylkill Haven 7

2B — Brennan, McGrath, Cruz, Mull, Snyder, Scherer, Russo

3B — Cruz

SB — Jenan, Randazzo

CS — Scherer

SAC — P. Laudeman

Minersville

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
C. Laudeman L,8-2	3	7	4	2	0	2
O’Brien	3	6	4	4	3	2

Schuylkill Haven

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
Scherer W,7-5	7	11	5	4	0	7

C. Laudeman pitched to 1 batter in the 4th.

T — 1:49.

District 11 Class AA Semifinal

At Patton Field, Orwigsburg

Williams Valley 14, Mahanoy Area 1

ORWIGSBURG — Williams Valley had one major goal heading into a District 11 Class AA semifinal against Mahanoy Area: Score early, and score often.

Mission accomplished.

Quin Smeltz bashed a tape-measure, three-run home run to key an 11-run first inning that carried the Vikings to victory.

Williams Valley will take on Schuylkill Haven, an 8-5 winner over Minersville, for the championship at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Pine Grove.

Smeltz added an RBI single in the big first inning to finish 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Winning pitcher Liv Hand went 2-for-4 with a double, four RBIs and one run scored.

Kamri Koppenhaver added a 2-for-3 day with one run and one RBI. At the top of the lineup, Delaney Bixler went 1-for-2 with three runs and one RBI; Ella Kobularik finished 1-for-2 with two runs and two RBIs.

“It was a great win. We’ve been struggling the last few games, and we came out fast tonight,” Williams Valley coach Ryan Underkoffler said. “That’s one of the things we talked about the last week and a half at practice that we needed to start fast and not get behind like we did in those losses.”

Hailey Mroczka laced an RBI triple for the Golden Bears.

Hand took care of the pitching for Williams Valley. In five innings, she allowed three hits, struck out 10 and walked one.

“She was dealing,” Underkoffler said. “She was throwing some speed there, a lot of movement on her ball, hitting her spots. That’s always key.”

 

MAHANOY AREA (1) — Poslosky p-3b 2 1 0 0, Mroczka c 3 0 1 1, Kowalick ss 2 0 1 0, Carl 3b-p 2 0 1 0, Killian 1b 2 0 0 0, Connolly cf 2 0 0 0, Zubris 2 0 1 0, Scully lf 2 0 0 0, Davis rf 1 0 0 0, Kramer ph 1 0 0 0. Totals 19 1 3 1.

WILLIAMS VALLEY (14) — Bixler rf 2 3 1 1, Kobularik ss 2 2 1 2, Hand p 4 1 2 4, Smeltz c 4 1 2 4, Ziegler cr 0 1 0 0, Brill 2b 1 2 1 0, Koppenhaver 3b 3 1 2 1, Mace cf 2 0 0 1, Perhach 1b 2 2 0 0, Underkoffler dp 1 1 0 0, Shomper lf 0 0 0 0. Totals 21 14 9 13.

Teams	123	45		—	Runs
Mah (8-13)	001	00		—	1
WV (17-5)	(11)11	1x		—	14

E — Mahanoy Area 0, Williams Valley 0

DP — None

LOB — Mahanoy Area 4, Williams Valley 5

2B — Hand, Brill

3B — Mroczka

HR — Smeltz

SB — Bixler 2, Kobularik, Brill, Hand

Mahanoy Area

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
Poslosky L,2-4	.1	2	5	5	2	0
Carl	3.2	7	9	9	5	1

Williams Valley

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
Hand W,9-4	5	3	1	1	1	10

HBP — by Poslosky (Kobularik, Brill), by Carl (Perhach). WP — Carl 3, Poslosky. T — 1:17.

District 11 Class 3A Semifinal

At Patton Field, Orwigsburg

Pine Grove Area 13, Palisades 3

ORWIGSBURG — It took a while, but Pine Grove Area finally got its bats going.

And once the Cardinals found their timing, they clubbed their way past Palisades in a six-inning, District 11 Class 3A semifinal at Patton Field.

The Pirates pushed Pine Grove Area early, leading 3-1 after three innings. Fiona Kelleher started her team’s scoring with a solo home run.

The Cardinals kept their poise, kept the game close, then erupted for a nine-run fifth inning to take control. Jamie Dinger gave her team the lead with a two-run single. Lily Flynn followed with a two-run home run, and Khloe Jessman slugged a solo shot back-to-back. Callee Leffler added a two-run homer, her 15th of the season.

In the sixth, Dinger slammed a solo home run, and Meadow Umbenhauer ended the game with an RBI single.

Chelcy Clark came on in relief of Dinger in the circle and hurled three scoreless innings to earn the victory. Clark allowed one hit while striking out three and walking none.

Jessman finished 4-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs for the Cardinals. Dinger went 2-for-4 with three RBIS, and Flynn finished 2-for-4 with a double a homer, two RBIs and two runs scored.

“The girls didn’t panic. They’ve been here before,” Pine Grove Area coach Ryan Leffler said. “They knew what they needed to do, and they did a good job adjusting late in the game.”

The Cardinals advanced to Wednesday’s championship game against Northern Lehigh, a 7-6 winner over Salisbury in the other semifinal. The final will be played at 4 p.m. at Blue Mountain.

PALISADES (3) — Russo ss 3 1 1 0, Leditke p 3 0 1 0, Combs cr 0 1 0 0, Hershey 1b 2 0 0 1, Crooke 2b 3 0 1 1, Kelleher c 3 1 1 1, Fleck lf 3 0 0 0, Bonelli cf 2 0 0 0, Deem 3b 2 0 0 0, McElhenny dp 2 0 0 0, Evleth rf 0 0 0 0. Totals 23 3 4 3.

PINE GROVE AREA (13) — Leffler cf 4 1 1 2, Aungst s 2 1 0 0, Dinger p-dp 4 1 2 3, Flynn 2b 4 2 2 2, Jessman rf 4 3 4 2, Umbenhauer 3b 3 1 1 1, Bohr c 3 1 1 0, Schneck lf 3 0 1 0, Clark dp-p 2 0 1 1, Morgan cr 0 2 0 0, Behrent 1b 0 1 0 0. Totals 29 13 13 11.

Teams	123	456		—	Runs
Pali (8-12)	012	000		—	3
PGA (21-2)	010	192		—	13

E — Palisades 4, Pine Grove Area 1

DP — None

LOB — Palisades 3, Pine Grove Area 3

2B — Flynn

HR — Kelleher, Flynn, Dinger, Jessman, Leffler

SB — Combs 2, Umbenhauer 3, Jessman 2, Morgan, Aungst

SAC — Clark

Palisades

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
Leditke L	5.1	13	13	12	2	1

Pine Grove Area

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
Dinger	3	3	3	1	1	2
Clark W,9-0	3	1	0	0	0	3

HBP — by Leditke (Aungst, Umbenhauer). T — 1:35.

District 11 Class A Semifinal

At Susan Y. Stump Field

Tri-Valley 12, Nativity 0 

PINE GROVE — Ava Snyder went 3-for-3 with a triple and four RBIs to power Tri-Valley past Nativity in a District 11 Class A semifinal at Susan Y. Stump Field.

Myah Schwalm and Alina Leonard combined on a four-hit shutout in the circle for the Dawgs. Schwalm pitched the first three innings, striking out six and walking one. Leonard struck out six in her two innings of work.

Kenzie Tobin added a single and three RBIs, while Leonard finished 2-for-3 with a double, two runs and one RBI. Tri-Valley scored six runs in the first inning to take control.

The Dawgs advance to the championship game to take on Marian, a 10-3 winner over Weatherly in the other semifinal, at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Pine Grove.

  

Teams	123	45		—	Runs	Hits	Errors
Nat (4-17)	000	00		—	0	4	2
TV (16-5)	650	1x		—	12	13	0

Stankavage and Lorence; Schwalm, Leonard (4) and Rodichok. W – Schwalm (9-1). L – Stankavage (3-12).

Hits: Nativity – Krapf, Rushannon, Jansson, Ricard. Tri-Valley – Cupsta, Leonard 2, Witmer, Schwalm, Rodichok, Stiely, Lupole, Tobin, Kramer, A. Snyder 3.

2B – Witmer, Leonard. 3B – A. Snyder.

District 11 Class A Semifinal

At Susan Y. Stump Field

Marian 10, Weatherly 3 

PINE GROVE — Malina Letcher and Hailey Treskolasky powered Marian past Weatherly in a District 11 Class A semifinal at Susan Y. Stump Field.

Letcher went 2-for-4 with a triple and four RBIs for the Fillies; Treskolasky finished 2-for-4 with a triple, three runs and one RBI.

Kayla Birrer pitched a complete game for Marian, striking out five and walking three. The Fillies will play Tri-Valley in Tuesday’s championship game at 4:30 p.m. at Pine Grove.

Abby Weston went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Wreckers.

 

Teams	123	456	7	—	Runs	Hits	Errors
Wea (9-12)	000	020	1	—	3	7	2
Mar (12-9)	006	130	x	—	10	7	0

Binder and Makowiec; Birrer and Treskolasky. W – Birrer (7-5). L – Binder (8-12).

Hits: Weatherly – Weston 2, Kane 2, DiGennaro 2, Binder. Marian – Pugh, Upanavage, Treskolasky 2, Letcher 2, Cannon.

3B – Letcher, Treskolasky.

District 11 Class 4A Semifinal

At Susan Y. Stump Field

Blue Mountain 3, Palmerton 2  

PINE GROVE — Emmerson Frie slugged a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Blue Mountain a walk-off win over Palmerton in a District 11 Class 4A semifinal at Susan Y. Stump Field.

The second-seeded Eagles will take on No. 4 North Schuylkill, a 12-4 winner over Northwestern Lehigh, for the title. The championship game will be played at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Pine Grove.

Blue Mountain got on the board with a pair of runs in the third inning. Addyson Fishburn (2-for-3) singled and scored during the inning.

Palmerton tied the game in the fifth on Hailey Barry’s two-run single.

Emily Leonard went the distance in the circle for the Eagles. She allowed four hits and no earned runs while striking out four and walking none.

 

Teams	123	456	7	—	Runs	Hits	Errors
Palm (20-5)	000	020	0	—	2	4	3
BM (22-2)	002	000	1	—	3	6	3

George and Trumbore; Leonard and Frie. W – Leonard (19-2). L – George.

Hits: Palmerton – Barry, Strohl, Wolfe, George. Blue Mountain – Fishburn 2, Place, Frie, Vincent, Manbeck.

2B – Wolfe, Vincent. HR – Frie.

District 11 Class 4A Semifinal

At Patriots Park, Allentown

North Schuylkill 12, NW Lehigh 4 

ALLENTOWN — For 12 months, North Schuylkill worked toward a rematch with Northwestern Lehigh. When the Spartans got their opportunity in the District 11 Class 4A semifinals at Patriots Park, they made the most of it.

Brigid Flynn hit a three-run home run and Gianna Capone added a solo shot as North Schuylkill slugged its way past the defending-champion Tigers. The Spartans will face Blue Mountain, a 3-2 winner over Palmerton, for the championship at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Pine Grove. Both North Schuylkill and Blue Mountain clinched trips to the state tournament with their victories.

Abby Dunstan homered in the first inning as Northwestern Lehigh jumped out to a 3-0 lead that the Tigers took to the fourth inning.

But the Spartans responded with a six-run outburst to go ahead to stay.

Olivia Jones went 4-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored to spark North Schuylkill’s 17-hit attack. Jordanna Frie finished 3-for-5 with a run scored, and Peyton Miscannon went 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored.

“All our girls did an amazing job today,” North Schuylkill coach Jack Flynn said. “This is a game we wanted all season. After they beat us last year for the district championship, all we wanted all year was another chance to see if we could beat them. We were down early, but the girls absolutely believed they could battle back.”

 

Teams	123	456	7	—	Runs	Hits	Errors
NS (19-5)	000	633	0	—	12	17	2
NWL (21-4)	300	000	1	—	4	8	2

Flynn and Capone; Diehl, Freeman (4), Behler (5) and Dunstan. W – Flynn (16-5). L – Diehl.

Hits: North Schuylkill – Flynn 2, Frie 3, Capone 2, Croker 2, Holmes, Jones 4, Miscannon 2, Fidler. Northwestern Lehigh – Bressi, Freeman, Conner 3, Dunstan, Schlofer, Boyer.

2B – Capone, Holmes, Jones, Miscannon, Conner. HR – Capone, Flynn, Dunstan.

District 11 Class 5A Semifinal

At Patriots Park Allentown

Southern Lehigh 7, Pottsville 5 

ALLENTOWN — Southern Lehigh outlasted Pottsville in 10 innings in a District 11 Class 5A semifinal at Patriots Park. The Crimson Tide finish the season 11-10.