Palisades falls, 3-2, in state semis

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Palisades took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but couldn't hold on.

Jersey Shore rallied for a 3-2 win over the Pirates in the PIAA Class 3A semifinals at King's College in Wilkes-Barre early Monday night.

The loss ended the Pirates season at 22-6.

Krista Morrone, the team's brilliant junior pitcher, allowed six hits, struck out seven and -- as usual -- walked none.

But the District 4 champs put the ball in play against her and challenged a Palisades defense that wasn't always up to the task.

All three Jersey Shore runs were unearned.

The Bulldogs (23-1) took advantage of two Palisades miscues to tie the game in the second and then got the game-winner in the fifth when two players in the outfield collded going for a routine flyball. The ball was jarred loose and Jersey Shore had the baserunner that would wind up scoring and sending the Williamsport-area team to Shippensburg for Friday's title game against Bellefonte.

Winning pitcher Brooke Koch had reached on the error. She was replaced on the bases by courtesy runner Kayla Allen. Allen moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third and scored on Hannah Yost's single to left.

Palisades had scored in the first when Ellie Giovino reached on a walk to start the game, moved to second on a sac bunt and scored on Morrone's single. Courtesy runner Laurel Coffman came around to score on Mary Beth Sadow's double.

But that was it for the Pirates offense, which was limited to just two hits the rest of the way -- a bunt single by Giovino in the third and a single to center by Sadow in the seventh.

Koch struck out 11, including the last two Palisades hitters to end the game.

Disappointed to fall one win short of Shippensburg, the Pirates were still proud to have set a school record for wins and claim their second district gold in three years.

Palisades 200 000 0-- 2 4 3

Jersey Shore 020 010 x -- 3 6 0

Morrone and Sadow; Koch and Bower.

FROM KEITH GROLLER