Colonial League Softball Championship Game preview and prediction

COLONIAL LEAGUE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Who: Northern Lehigh vs. Palisades.

When/Where: 5 p.m. Thursday at Pates Park in Allentown.

NORTHERN LEHIGH (No. 3 seed, 15-6, 11-4).

Coach: Brian Schell (third season in second stint 42-23; 166-102 in 13 seasons).

How they got here: Won North Division title, defeated Southern Lehigh 3-1 in the Colonial League semis.

About the Bulldogs: Going for their first league title since 1995. Have lost in the finals four times since -- 1996, 2000, 2001 and 2003 -- each time to Southern Lehigh. Beat Southern Lehigh 3-1 behind Julie Wagaman's five-hitter. ... Kristi Seiler sparked the offense with two hits, a run scored and a RBI. Jocelyn Rodrigues knocked in a run with a single in win over Southern Lehigh. ...Of their six losses, four were by two runs or less. ... Defeated Palisades 2-0 on April 17 at Pates Park behind Wagaman's five-hitter. In that game, Erika Bowmanwent 2-for-4 with an RBI and junior Tamara Stubits was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a double. Seiler was 1-for-3 with a RBI.

Probable starting lineup: Erika Bowman (c) (jr.) .332, 17 runs, 19 hits, 7 BB , 6 sb, 1 hr Payton Marunich (2b) (jr.) .265, 13 runs, 11 rbi, 10 BB, 2 hr Julie Wagaman (p) (sr. ) .365, 22 runs, 19 hits, 15 rbi, 6 sb, 1 hr, 9 BB Kristi Seiler (ss) (sr.) .351, 13 runs, 20 hits, 15 rbi Tamara "Bam" Stubits (cf)(jr.) .442, 16 runs, 23 hits, 14 rbi, 6 BB, Jocelyn Rodrigues (lf)(sr).373, 19 hits, 18 rbi Maggie Lear (3b) (jr) .210, 14 runs, 13 BB Kayla Toth (DP) (sr.) .256, 10 hits Jen Bet (rf) (sr.) .200 Sarah Frantz (flex) (fr.) (1b).

Pitching: Wagaman 8-4, 1.26 ERA, 12 ER, 72 Ks in 72 IP,

PALISADES (No. 1 seed, 17-4, 12-4)

Coach: Michelle Borzok (second season 33-12).

How they got here: Won South Division title, defeated Pen Argyl 1-0 in nine innings in Wednesday's semis.

About the Pirates: Advanced to the title game for the second straight year after never having made the tournament before 2009. ... Beat Pen Argyl 1-0 in the ninth on Jackie Gubler's RBI double. ... Morrone retired 16 straight batters in one stretch and finished with a three-hitter. Taylor Rundatz led attack with three hits, Morrone had two. ... Finished regular season with six wins in last seven games. .. Morrone's 242 strikeouts is just two shy of her 2009 total.

Probable starting lineup: 1. Ellie Giovino (Sr. RF); 2. Sam Sherrard (So. 2B); 3. Taylor Rundatz (Jr. SS); 4. Krista Morrone (Jr. P); 5. Mary Beth Sadow (Sr. C); 6. Jackie Gubler (Sr. CF); 7. Michelle Smith (Jr. 1B); 8. Stacey Hanisak (So. LF); 9. Jess Lehr (So. DP). Flex, Andi Thompson (Sr. 3B).



Pitching: Morrone 143 IP, 59 hits, 10 ER, 242 Ks 4 walks, 049 ERA.

Prediction: Palisades was the pick back in March and there's no reason to go against the Pirates now, although this is a special Northern Lehigh team that won't back down. Brian Schell really likes his team and they won't be intimidated. It could take awhile for someone to score, but Palisades and Morrone become the first Colonial League repeat champion since Southern Lehigh won four straight at the start of the last decade. Palisdes 2-1.

FROM KEITH GROLLER