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The Hazleton Area and Tunkhannock softball teams can make history individually. Or together, they can form a first-ever accomplishment.
The two Wyoming Valley Conference teams will be attempting to make a softball state championship game for the first time in their schools’ history on Monday. If both make it, then it will be the first time the WVC placed two teams in softball state championship games in the same season. The PIAA’s first state playoffs were in 1975.
District 2, which comprises the WVC and Lackawanna League, has placed two teams in state finals in the same year just once. That came in 2006 when Lackawanna League teams Lakeland (2A) and Blue Ridge (A) played for state titles.
Besides losing in the 4A semifinals last year, Hazleton Area fell in the semifinals in 2005 (4A) and 2000 (3A). Tunkhannock’s only trip to states previously was in 1999 when the Tigers lost in the opening round.
Hazleton Area vs. Spring-Ford
Class 6A Semifinal
noon Monday
Parkland H.S.
District 2 champion Hazleton Area (21-3) has its fourth crack at making it to the state championship game and second in consecutive years. The Cougars advanced to the semifinals when freshman Marissa Trivelpiece’s two-out double in the bottom of the seventh secured a 6-5 win over D1 fifth seed Council Rock North. The team hit into some back luck through the first five innings.
“I knew the kids had enough heart and grit to make it through the game,” Hazleton Area coach Heather Natt said. “I’m so proud that Marissa came through.”
Prior to the Hazleton Area win, D1 third seed Spring-Ford (20-3) turned on the offense late to defeat D11 champion Bethlehem Liberty 9-2. Designated player Bridget Sharkey paced the offense with three doubles and five RBI. Senior shortstop Megan Kern, though, is considered the team’s top player. She was the Pioneer Athletic Conference MVP last year. Senior right fielder Sophia Cinti was also a PAC all-star in 2016.
Pitcher Sam Lindsay allowed just five hits, but was in some mild trouble at times. Liberty stranded two runners in four different innings.
The early start is because Hazleton Area is graduation Monday night.
The winner faces the winner of D3 champion Chambersburg vs. D7 champ Hempfield Area at 4 p.m. Thursday at Nittany Lion Softball Park at Penn State for the inaugural 6A state title.
Tunkhannock vs. Bangor
PIAA 4A Semifinal
6:30 p.m. Monday
Wilkes University
District 2 champion Tunkhannock (18-5) has received incredible pitching from Hope Jones and Kendra Schultz. They didn’t give up a run in three district games and the state opener. Each finally allowed two runs apiece in the quarterfinals against Eastern York, but by that time the offense had awaken from a bit of a slump with 12 runs in the first two innings.
“We’ve been smoking the ball in practice and in the cage,” said Hailey Farr, who was 3 for 3 with three RBI in the 15-4 victory. “I knew it was going to happen sometime.”
The 15 runs were one less than Tunkhannock scored in its first four postseason games combined. The Tigers will need to squeeze out every bit of offense against D11 champion Bangor.
Bangor (26-1) can score. The Slaters have scored 11 or more run 16 times. Four seniors have led the way — Dani Fey (.638, 5 HRs, 46 RBI), Ciarrah Holmqvist (.524, 5 triples, 33 RBI), Nikki Kessler (.500, 11 RBI) and Kaitlyn Caleen (.475, 4 HRs, 36 RBI). The team can run and has been successful on 61 of 65 steal attempts.
Bangor has been able to hit its way out of dilemmas. The Slaters spotted D2 runner-up Wyoming Area a four-run lead after one-half inning and bounced back for a 9-4 win in their state opener. Pitcher Danielle Gannon hasn’t been overpowering, with 50 strikeouts in 93.1 innings.
The winner plays the winner of the game between D7 runner-up Yough and D7 third seed Mount Pleasant at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Nittany Lion Softball Park at Penn State for the championship.