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ALLENTOWN — Maybe Hailey Farr could have predicted the sudden offensive explosion that powered the Tunkhannock Tigers into the state softball semifinals.

But her first career high school home run, and in a state quarterfinal game?

That seemed like more of a fantasy, especially with the way the sophomore has been struggling at the plate.

So when Farr sent a three-run blast over the left field fence during Tunkhannock’s nine-run, second-inning eruption Thursday, it only drove home the team’s “Pinch me” feeling during a 15-4 victory over Eastern York in five innings that sent the Tigers into the PIAA Class 4A semifinals.

“I’m like, ‘This is so unbelievable,” Farr said. “At first, I thought it hit the fence, but then I saw the umpire twirling his finger. I couldn’t believe it happened.

“I just can’t believe it.”

Neither could the rest of the Tigers, who mobbed Farr at the plate after her homer gave Tunkhannock an 11-0 lead.

“Oh my God, I’m just so proud of her,” said Tunkhannock catcher Danielle Krispin, who threw out two runners in the game. “She was in a bit of a slump. She works so hard at hitting. She hits 1,000 balls a day in practice, probably more.”

The big one Farr hit was only part of an offensive outburst that carried Tunkhannock (14-4) into Monday’s PIAA semifinal against Wyoming Area-slayer Bangor, which beat Upper Perkiomen 8-4 in another Class 4A semifinal Thursday.

“I think it was bound to happen,” said Tunkhannock’s No. 5 hitter Kendra Schultz, who finished a homer away from the cycle. “The way we hit in the (batting) cages has just been so explosive.”

The tremors came early for Eastern York.

Hope Jones and Paige Mokychic both singled in the first inning, Jena Simmons brought them both home with a booming double, then Schultz drilled a double off the first base bag to score Simmons with an early 3-0 lead.

“They just unloaded today,” Tunkhannock coach Bob Hagedty said. “They came out and saw pitches they liked and just jumped on them.”

Then the Tigers teed off in the second, sending 13 batters to the plate while scoring nine runs on six hits to break the game open.

Hope Jones, Mokychic and Sarah Traver all delivered RBI doubles before Farr crushed a blast over wall, scoring Traver and Erin Dunn ahead of her. It was Farr’s second hit of the inning and part of a 3 for 3 day where she also finished with three runs scored and three RBI.

“That’s my first ever,” Farr said of her homer. “I’ve come close, I hit one in practice, but that doesn’t count. I was ahead 3-1 (in the count), I knew I needed a good pitch to hit. I got one, and I drove it. It’s great, I’ve been struggling at the plate. I’ve been working really hard. It’s great to see it finally come through.”

Some defense came through for the Tigers, who surrendered their first PIAA playoff runs after throwing shutouts during their previous four postseason games.

Krispin cut short an Eastern York threat in the second inning by picking off a runner at third base with an inning-ending throw from her catcher’s position at a key moment — just after the Tigers built some momentum by scoring three times in the first.

She also helped hold Eastern York to two runs in the fourth inning — while giving Tunkhannock a chance to end the game early by the 10-run rule — by cutting down a runner trying to steal second base.

“I saw she kept coming off (third base) a little too much,” Krispin said of her first assist, “coming closer to me too much. I just threw her out. That’s a normal thing that should happen in a game. We all play travel league. You should get good plays like that.”

The Tigers got a couple more.

Shortsop Faith Jones made a neat pickup and strong throw to strand an Eastern York runner at third base in the opening inning. Second baseman Jenn Bulford cut down a run at the plate with a strong throw on a bases-loaded force play in the third inning. And the game ended when Bulford speared a hard liner, then flipped to first to catch the breaking runner for a double play.

That turned the two runs allowed by starting pitcher and winner Hope Jones and two more surrendered by reliever Schultz into a footnote.

“Personally, I struggled a little today,” said Schultz, who surrendered five of Eastern York’s 11 hits. “They were a good hitting team. They could hit the ball. But our defense was definitely there.”

So was Tunkhannock’s big bat attack.

Schultz finished with a single, double and a triple that was lined off the right field fence before she scored on an error in the third inning — and missed an opportunity to try for the cycle when Tunkhannock’s final at-bat left her standing on deck before her fourth trip to the plate.

“That would have been nice,” Schultz said. “So cool.”

Mokychic also wound up with a single, double and triple, drove home three runs and scored twice, while Simmons added a sacrifice fly in the second-inning rally to finish with three RBI.

“We’ve been smoking the ball in practice and in the cage,” Farr said. “I knew it was going to happen sometime.”

PIAA Class 4A Quarterfinal

Tunkhannock 15, Eastern York 4

Eastern York`AB`R`H`BI

Dobbeck lf`3`0`2`1

Lehman 3b`2`1`1`0

Leber p`3`0`0`0

Winter c`2`0`1`2

Buchmyer ss`2`0`0`0

Myers ph`1`0`1`0

Forry 2b`2`0`1`0

Mack ph`1`0`0`0

Grove 1b`3`1`1`0

Merriel rf`0`0`0`0

Fenwick p`2`1`2`1

Shaffer cf`2`1`2`0

Totals`23`4`11`4

Tunkhannock`AB`R`H`BI

H. Jones p, rf`4`2`2`1

F. Jones ss`1`2`0`0

Mokychic cf`4`2`3`3

Simmons 3b`3`1`1`3

Schultz rf,p`3`2`3`1

Traver lf`3`1`1`1

Krispin c`0`0`0`0

Dunn dp`2`1`0`0

Farr 1b`3`3`3`3

Bulford 2b`0`1`0`0

Totals`23`15`13`12

Eastern York`002`20`—`4

Tunkhannock`391`2x`—`15

2B — Fenwick 2, Forry; Simmons, Schultz, H. Jones, Traver. 3B — Schultz, Mokychic. HR — Farr.

Eastern York`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

Leber, L`1.2`8`10`10`0`0

Fenwick`3.1`5`5`4`2`0

Tunkhannock`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

H. Jones, W`3`6`2`2`0`2

Schultz`2`5`2`2`2`1

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_SOFTBALL-1.jpg.optimal.jpg

By Paul Sokoloski

[email protected]

VIDEO

To watch Tunhannock sophomore Hailey Farr hit her first high school career home run in a Class 4A state quarterfinal game, visit timesleader.com.

Reach Paul Sokoloski at 570-991-6392 or on Twitter @TLPaulSokoloski

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Video Caption: Tunkhannock’s Hailey Farr homers in state quarterfinal
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