Penn Manor softball falls to Lower Dauphin in Class AAAA semifinal

Penn Manor softball had never reached the PIAA state tournament before this year.

The Comets took care of that with a win against Exeter in the quarterfinals of the District 3 Class AAAA tournament.

However, the District 3 championship dream came to an end when the upstart Comets lost to perennial power Lower Dauphin, 7-2, on Tuesday afternoon in a semifinal at York College.

"Any time you're playing a game, you want to win," Penn Manor head coach David Stokes said. "However, I'm just grateful that we were in the district tournament and took care of qualifying for the state tournament. The kids have done a lot of overachieving this year."

It has been a big step for the Penn Manor program, which went a combined 13-25 over the last two seasons, and last appeared in districts in 2012.

"I can't say enough about the kids," Stokes said. "I'm proud of them. Brittany Hook has done a great job pitching all year, and the defense behind her has been good."

This is not foreign territory for the Lower Dauphin Falcons, who were the runner-up in District 3 a season ago.

After Hook, a freshman, put up a scoreless first inning for the No. 9-seeded Comets, she appeared set for another scoreless frame.

She got the first two outs on grounders in the second inning, but then gave up singles to Ava Bottiglia and Jenna Miller.

Leah Decker, the No. 9 hitter, ripped a ball to the left of center, and it popped out of the center fielder's glove for what was ruled an error by the official scorer.

Shade Stewart, running for Bottiglia, scored, and runners were at second and third for Kaylee Stoner.

After striking out in her first at-bat, Stoner hit a fly ball over the left fielder's head for a two-run double to make it 3-0.

Stoner went 2-for-4 with two doubles and five RBIs.

"It is tough to be able to overcome (after striking out the first time), Stoner said. "She's a very good pitcher, it's nerve-wracking."

Hook gave up four earned runs in seven innings of work Tuesday, striking out five.

Penn Manor battled back for two in the top of the third.

Sydney Duplissey walked with two outs, stole second, and scored on Alyssa Schriver's RBI single. Schriver scored on Danielle Wright's grounder to second that was misplayed.

"When we gave up the three runs, it was all balls that could have been caught," Stokes said. "What I'm so proud of is, they didn't give up, they came right back and got two runs."

There are sequences in bat-and-ball sports that play out in many layers. LD put the game away in one of those moments.

Stoner came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth.

"The bases are loaded, so of course that's going to pump me up," Stoner said.

Lower Dauphin head coach Steve Alcorn called on her to bunt, but she fouled the first attempt off.

"Ava was on third base, and I told her the bunt was off," Alcorn said. "I told her, 'Don't worry, (Stoner) is going to hit it."

Indeed.

Stoner whacked the 0-1 pitch further into the left-center gap than she did for her first double.

"As soon as I hit it, I knew, and I ran out there," Stoner said.

Two runs scored easily, and Decker beat the throw home as Stoner took third.

The catcher threw wildly to third, and Stoner came in to score.

"It's exciting, but on my home field, we don't have a fence, so I'm used to continuing to run," Stoner said.

Lower Dauphin plays Daniel Boone in the District 3 championship on Thursday, while Penn Manor will battle Cumberland Valley for third.

Lower Dauphin 7, Penn Manor 2

Penn Manor0020000—233Lower Dauphin0304000—772

PM, Brittany Hook and Sydney Duplissey. LD, Ava Bottiglia and Shelby Alcorn.

SO-BB — PM, Hook 5-1. LD, Bottiglia 6-3; W — Bottigilia; L — Hook; 2B — LD, Stoner 2, Madison Lilliock 2, Jenna Miller.