Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

It’s all about winning right now. How that’s accomplished really doesn’t matter.

Hazleton Area and District 1 third seed Spring-Ford know that well as they meet in a PIAA Class 6A softball state semifinal game at 5 p.m. Monday at Patriots Park in Allentown.

Hazleton Area (22-1) had one of the most potent offensives in the Wyoming Valley Conference on the way to the WVC Division 1 and District 2 Class 6A championships. Things, though, can change in the state tournament where the pitching level and tension increase sharply.

Hazleton Area had to scratch out a 2-1 victory over D1 fourth seed Pennsbury in its state opener. The Cougars banged out eight hits, but needed a pair of Pennsbury errors to set up a couple sacrifice fly situations to score. Gianna Gombeda knocked in the first run with a sac fly to right in the fourth. Olivia Wolk did the same thing in the fifth.

Plus, Pennsbury’s offense was curtailed by stellar glove play by Hazleton Area third baseman Tiana Treon and left fielder Kyra Antolick.

“It’s been a tale of two seasons for us,” Hazleton Area coach Bob Bertoni said. “Offensively, we’ve been strong during the regular season. Now it’s our pitching and our defense.

“Listen, you’re not going to score nine runs. You’re going to win games 1-0, 2-1.”

Then came D1 champion Downingtown West in the quarterfinals. Hazleton Area won the game with one out in the eighth when Julia Mrochko hit a walk-off home run just out of the reach of Downingtown West’s center fielder Meghan Sinkus. The ball hit off the tip of Sinkus glove as she tried to make a running catch as she smashed into the fence.

If Mrochko hit that ball just a few inches shorter, perhaps the Cougars are done for the year.

“It feels so great because we knew we had to get past this game,” Mrochko said shortly after the homer. “There was that fear of losing again (in the quarterfinals) like we did last year. Since we’ve got past this part, it’s all about staying together as a team, staying positive.

“Our motto this year is positive together.”

Positive thinking will come in handy.

Monday’s game presents a big challenge — Spring-Ford pitcher Bri Peck. The sophomore was named the Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year recently. She had a 0.61 ERA and 124 strikeouts and allowed just 21 hits through 68.2 innings when she was selected.

Peck and the rest of the Rams saw their District 1 title hopes end the next game with a 4-3 loss to Downingtown West in the district semifinals. They eked out a 1-0 win vs. Pennsbury in the D1 third-place game.

While Peck proved difficult to hit throughout the season, Parkland knocked out seven hits when the teams played Thursday in the state quarterfinals. Peck, Noelle Reed, Julia Heine and Maddie Little provided enough offense in a four-run second inning in the 4-1 win. The bats went silent after the outburst.

Peck will be the main attraction, but Hazleton Area also has a pitcher who Bertoni has praised throughout the season. Aleah Kost has a 0.47 ERA and has allowed five hits and four walks in 15 innings of state competition.

“Aleah has proven she is as good as anyone around,” Bertoni said. “The last two performances were amazing.”

The winner plays 4 p.m. Thursday at Penn State for the state championship. The other semifinal game is between D3 champion Central Dauphin (23-2) and D7 champion Hempfield (18-6), which won the 6A state title the past two seasons and the 4A state title in 2016. Those teams play at 4 p.m. Monday at St. Francis University.

Hempfield defeated Hazleton Area 5-3 in the 2017 6A state championship contest. It was the only time the Cougars played for a state championship. Spring-Ford has never advanced to the finals.

Third baseman Tiana Treon has been part of a strong defense for Hazleton Area in the PIAA Class 6A state playoffs.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_Hazleton-Downingtown-4-1.jpg.optimal.jpgThird baseman Tiana Treon has been part of a strong defense for Hazleton Area in the PIAA Class 6A state playoffs. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Hazleton Area faces Spring-Ford, ace pitcher in semifinals

By John Erzar

[email protected]

Hazleton Area (22-1) vs. Spring-Ford (25-1)

PIAA Class 6A State Semifinals

5 p.m. Monday

Patriots Park, Allentown

Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar