Little League Softball: Minersville reaches Section 3 title game

The Minersville Little League Major Division softball team is competing in the Section 3 Tournament. (Submitted Photo)

TROY — With a pair of victories, the Minersville Little League Major Division softball team has advanced to the championship round of the Section 3 Tournament hosted by the Troy Little League.

In the opening round Tuesday, District 24 champion Minersville defeated District 12 winner Jersey Shore 11-9. In the other first-round game, District 13 champ Warrior Run downed District 15 winner Athens 12-7.

In the win over Jersey Shore, Lexi Toth had a two-run single, while Harper Yoder slugged an RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Miners an 11-9 lead. Emalyn Daubert finished with three RBIs. Alyssa Laudeman, Aly Heffron, Toth, Yoder and Daubert had two hits apiece for Minersville. Payton Withelder pitched a complete game for Minersville, striking out seven and walking one.

In the winners’ bracket final Wednesday, Minersville shut out Warrior Run 10-0 in four innings. In an elimination game, Jersey Shore blanked Athens 8-0.

Against Warrior Run, Maddie Graver pitched all four innings for Minersville, allowing four hits and no runs while striking out four and walking two. Heffron led the offense by going 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Laudeman went 2-for-2 with two RBIs, while Mallory Hopkins went 1-for-1 with two RBIs.

In Thursday’s losers’ bracket final, Warrior Run takes on Jersey Shore at 5:30 p.m.

That winner of that game will advance to play Minersville on Friday at 5:30 p.m. An if-necessary game is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m.

Minersville needs one more victory to advance to the Pennsylvania State Softball Little League Tournament to be hosted July 9-15 by the Nanticoke Little League. The eight sectional champions will gather for a double-elimination state tournament.