District 11 Softball: Tamaqua holds off Notre Dame-Green Pond in Class 4A quarterfinal

Nico Conahan, Tamaqua softball. (Photo by Bob Lipsky)

TAMAQUA — Sometimes this band of softball players can surprise itself.

It’s been a joyride for Tamaqua 2025; little expected but plenty of good tidings.

Once again, the Blue Raiders found themselves in a bit of a quandary Friday against Notre Dame-Green Pond in the District 11 Class 4A quarterfinals.

Once again, this team had some pixie dust late in the game, when it rallied for a pair of runs in the home sixth. Peyton Faust singled home courtesy runner Mia Bamford, who came on to run after Addison Krall drew a leadoff walk to ignite the game-winning rally. Bamford’s run tied the game, setting the table for Nico Conahan, who slapped home the game-winning run. Conahan’s hit allowed Jalissa Correa, who pinch-ran for Faust, to score the final run of the game.

“I just wanted to make contact, and put the ball in play,” Faust explained of her second hit of the day that tied the game, setting the table for Conahan.

The 4-3 win sends Tamaqua (15-9) into today’s early wakeup call for a 9 a.m. matchup at Patriots Park to face top seeded Northwestern Lehigh (22-2), which beat Bethlehem Catholic 11-1.

Of course, there were blink moments for the Blue Raiders. They trailed after NDGP (13-9) scored first to open the game, when Hannah Lilly crossed the dish. Addison Ryan, a terrific talent, singled home Lilly. Ryan had a banner day, driving in all three of Notre Dame runs on two hits. She added an RBI on a sacrifice fly to right in the third inning and rang up a clutch hit with two outs in the fourth, giving her team a 3-2 lead.

“I was afraid of her, she is so strong and in the (seventh) I was hoping she wouldn’t hit it out,” Tamaqua coach Tony Zancofsky said. “She’s such a powerful girl she could hit it out anytime.”

Respect for sure.

“We have a bunch kids that battle, they have a determination and find a way to win,” Zancofsky added.

To be sure, it sometimes puzzles even the most optimistic rooter.

It was a stellar game in the circle for freshman pitching sensation Naomi Knitter, who went the distance, tossing 107 pitches, allowing seven hits and two earned runs.

“Yeah, I was nervous but once things got going, I was OK,” the right-hander said. “My drop and fastball were working, and I used those (two) pitches mostly. But my adrenaline kept me going. Yes, I did have nerves early.”

Notre Dame went ahead in the top of the third, manufacturing another run. Natalie Lilly slung an 0-2 count for a single to center field and raced to third when Riley Paloak was safe on an error. Ryan was back up and this time skied to deep right, allowing Lilly to tag and score for a 2-1 lead.

Tamaqua answered in the home half of the inning, when with one down, Kolbe Robb walked moved to second when Ceana Gormley singled. That set the stage for Leah Crowley, who singled home Robb tying things at 2-2. Then things went silent for Tamaqua in the run department, though it twice left runners stranded at second in the fourth and fifth innings.

“Yeah, we missed a few chances to score,” Zancofsky pointed out. “It went back and forth and I was hoping that we didn’t get to the bottom of the (seventh).”

Nerves obvious in Zancofsky’s thinking.

Instead, things played out in the sixth, even though Notre Dame snuck in front for a 3-2 edge in the fifth.

“It’s definitely exciting. I was looking for that first pitch,” Faust said of her hit that tied the game. “It was big for the school; we haven’t had that type of a win in a while.”

SHE’S CLUTCH: Conahan made things work in her first plate appearance then singled in the sixth for the gamer. The Crusaders brought in relief pitcher Rachel Fisher to face Conahan with one ball in the count. Conahan never flinched beating out an infield hit for the winning run.

LEATHER MADE:  Both sides had some solid defensive plays in the field. NDGP center fielder Natalie Lilly chased down a bomb hit by Krall in the third. Tamaqua right fielder Megan Linkhorst had a busy day in the field as well.