PIAA softball: Fairfield, Eastern York roll on to next round
Fairfield and Eastern shut down their opponents Monday in the opening round of the PIAA softball tournament. Here's how things unfolded on the diamond:
Fairfield 5, Windber 2
The Green Knights followed up their first District 3 softball title with their first PIAA playoff victory.
Courtney Harbaugh scattered six hits and ended the game with a strikeout after two batters reached on errors. The Knights improved to 14-7 with the Class 2A victory at Everett High School in Bedford County.
"Her drop ball was working well, her change-up (was on) and her location was excellent tonight," Fairfield coach Terry Weikert said.
Fairfield's offense was led by Gena Eiker, who singled three times and Ashley Roberts, who doubled and singled. The Knights went ahead for good by scoring twice in the third inning.
"Ashley had a good night. She kind of got out of her funk tonight and hit the ball well," Weikert said.
Fairfield will now face District 1 champ Bristol on Thursday, with a time and site to be determined.
Eastern York 4, Bonner-Prendergast 3
The Golden Knights broke a late tie to advance in the Class 4A playoffs.
Maelynn Leber, Eastern's starting and winning pitcher, doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning to decide it at Arcadia University, an hour north of Philadelphia.
Leber struck out three, walked one and gave up five hits in the complete-game victory.
She got help on offense from her catcher, Morgan Winter, who was 3-for-4 and drove in three runs. Kiersten Grove also had two hits for the Knights.
Eastern, now 16-5, will play Tunkhannock, the District 2 champ, on Thursday at a site and time to be determined.