F-F Highlights: G-A softball punches ticket to MPC championship game
For the first time since 2011, the Greencastle-Antrim softball team has a chance to take home the Mid Penn Conference title.
But it wasn't an easy road.
The Lady Blue Devils claimed a 7-6 comeback victory over Lower Dauphin in the Mid Penn Conference semifinals to punch their ticket to the championship game against Commonwealth champion, Mifflin County, on Thursday.
In 2014, Greencastle lost to Lower Dauphin 3-2 in 10 innings in the same semifinal matchup and again last year in the 2016 conference tournament, but the Blue Devils were not letting this one get away. Ali Sherman led off the fourth inning with a triple to center to get the team headed in the right direction.
"I was preaching to them, this game is not over, we can't give up, and they kept believing it," Greencastle coach Mark DeCarli said. "And when Ali Sherman hit that triple, that sparked us a little bit and we kept believing."
Lower Dauphin pitcher Ava Bottiglia - one of the top pitchers in District 3 - struck out seven GA batters in her six-inning performance.
"We were a little nervous, and a little anxious," DeCarli said, "but we started having the girls bunt and Ava started throwing some balls, and they were being patient and hitting balls at the right time and causing some havoc on the bases."
Ally Brown had a pair of RBIs as Greencastle (15-5) clawed its way back into the game late, while Sherman, Alison Hoover and Jenna Carty each had RBIs to cut the deficit.
The game-tying and game-winning runs came in on an error in the sixth inning.
And as if a comeback victory wasn't enough excitement, Morgan Wagaman registered her 100th hit of her career in the fifth inning.
Ally Brown collected the win in the circle for Greencastle after entering the game in relief for Olivia Remenick in the third inning. Brown struck out three batters.
DYNASTY: The Mercersburg Academy baseball team claimed its seventh straight MAPL championship in a 6-2 win over Lawrenceville.
Dylan Bartlett hit a double and a two-run home run to lead the Blue Storm at the plate while Brandon Thomas and Patrick Sprague also had two hits each.
PHOTO OF THE DAY
SCORES
Baseball
Mercersburg Academy (13-6, 8-0 MAPL) 6, Lawrenceville 2
Northern Bedford 6, Fannett-Metal (5-15, 4-12 SHL/ 3-11 ICC) 2
Softball
Fannett-Metal (15-5, 12-5 SHL/ 11-5 ICC) 6, Northern Bedford 3
Southern Huntingdon 9, Forbes Road (6-9, 6-8 SHL/ 6-6 ICC) 0
Boys tennis
Georgetown Prep 4, Mercersburg Academy (6-9) 1
