RECAP
LYONS — Susquenita’s scintillating softball season continues.
Rachael Sterner fired a 3-hitter and fanned nine, battery mate Kora Zeigler went 3-for-3 with a pair of triples, and the Blackhawks picked off District 11 champ Pen Argyl 6-1 on Thursday at Lyons Field.
Sterner allowed a leadoff double and a first-inning run, then allowed just two singles the rest of the way for Susquenita, the District 3 champ and now 22-2 overall.
The Blackhawks made their first trip to a district final, won their first district championship, and are in the PIAA playoffs for the first time in program history.
On Monday, coach Ron Baker and Susquenita will square off against District 4 champ Central Columbia — a 4-2 winner over Delone Catholic — in a state semifinal at a site and time to be announced.
STERNER IN CONTROL
Using her full arsenal of pitches — including a baffling changeup her dad asked her to work on — Sterner kept Pen Argyl’s hitters off balance throughout.
Laura Zanette greeted Sterner with a gap double, and she came around to score on a wild pitch, giving the Green Knights a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
After that, Sterner allowed a clean single to opposing pitcher Emily Smull with one out in the fourth, and a bunt single by Alyssa Weaver with two outs in the sixth.
That’s it.
Sterner struck out nine — including back-to-back punch-outs in the third, fifth and seventh innings — and didn’t walk any batters.
She also helped out on offense, going 2-for-4 with an RBI — and that run batted in came in the top of the second, knotting the game at 1-all. Sterner’s base hit followed the first of Zeigler’s two triples.
FYI: Sterner and her fellow Susquenita seniors are set to graduate on Friday night; she’s slated to deliver a speech to her classmates.
PLENTY OF O FOR THE BLACKHAWKS
Susquenita took the lead for good in the top of the third when Vanessa Hoffman, who went 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot, singled, swiped second and scored on Carra Stevens’ double, giving the Blackhawks a 2-1 lead.
Susquenita tacked on a run in the top of the fourth when Zeigler cranked a triple to deep left-center, and courtesy runner Quinn Fisher scored on Kayla Rhome’s fielder’s choice chopper.
Zanette, Pen Argyl third-sacker, fielded Rhome’s grounder and faked a throw to first, but Fisher, who took off on contact, beat Zanette’s toss to the plate and the Blackhawks led 3-1.
TAKING ADVANTAGE
In the top of the fifth, Susquenita opened up more breathing room, getting two runs on one funky infield hopper.
With courtesy runners Heather Heckert and Nicole Heckert on second and third, respectively, Cassie Auxt hit a bouncer between the pitching circle and first base. Pen Argyl first baseman Corinne Ashmore fielded the ball but couldn’t win the race to the bag to get Auxt.
Heather Heckert scored, and when Ashmore took her time getting the ball back to the pitcher — or calling timeout to end the play — Nicole Heckert came flying around third and scored, giving Susquenita a 5-1 cushion.
In the top of the seventh, Hoffman reached on an error, stole another bag and scored on Amber Turpin’s RBI single to cap the scoring.
STAT ATTACK
Susquenita cranked out 10 hits. … Zeigler added a single and she was plunked by a pitch. Courtesy runners scored three times after Zeigler reached base. … Pen Argyl hit four balls out of the infield; Sterner was dialed in. … After Zanette’s leadoff double, Sterner didn’t allow a Green Knights’ runner to get past first base. … Clutch: Susquenita scored four 2-out runs.
DUGOUT CHATTER
Susquenita winning pitcher Rachael Sterner on her performance — “It was so much easier pitching with a lead, and we hit the ball really well. We were able to put the ball in play, and it all worked out. Of course I was nervous, especially after the first inning (trailing 1-0). But after we scored, definitely I was more comfortable.”
Sterner on her pitch selection — “I switched it all up. Kora called a super good game. I threw every pitch that I have. Every strikeout pitch was probably a different pitch. I shook her off a few times; sometimes we disagree. But I’ve been working on my changeup all season, and that was definitely an ‘on’ pitch — thank goodness.”
Sterner on reaching the state semifinals — “It’s super exciting. Of course we’re going one game at a time, but our main goal is to get to Penn State (for the PIAA finals). But we can’t skip over Central Columbia; we have to be ready for them.”
Susquenita catcher Kora Zeigler on being in the Final Four — “We’re so ready. I don’t think it’s totally sunk in yet; it probably will tonight when I’m trying to go to sleep.”
Zeigler on jiving with Sterner — “Her changeup was great and she was hitting the corners really well. She worked a great game. I think this is one of the biggest games she’s ever had. She pitched an awesome game. We really mixed it up.”
Zeigler on Susquenita’s run — “We try not to let all of this get to our heads. We’re trying to stay calm and just roll with it and do our thing. We believe in ourselves and we’re making all the plays and things are turning out well.”