Palisades gets another shut out from Morrone, and District 11 Gold

Palisades junior Krista Morrone tossed her third consecutive shutout in the District 11 tournament, a four-hitter to blank Southern Lehigh 2-0 Thursday for the 3A at Pates Park.

It is the Pirates' second D11 gold in three years, and sends them on to the state tournament which begins on Monday.

"We made it to the second round of states two years ago," said Morrone, who struck out 13 and finished the tourney with 25 scoreless innings. "This year, I definitely want more."

Palisades may need more offense to reach the PIAA state finals on June 18, but for now, just one run is enough for the Pirates to advance, thanks to Morrone.

In its previous two district games -- 1-0 wins over both Wilson and Saucon Valley -- Palisades waited until its last at-bat to score.

But on Thursday night, they scored in the first inning.

Ellie Giovino laid down a bunt single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Taylor Rundatz was hit by a pitch.

Giovino came all of the way around from second to score on an infield out.

Southern Lehigh got an out at first and when the throw went down to second trying to get Rundatz, Giovino took off for the plate and scored without a throw.

"There was no way I was stopping," Giovino said. "I saw there was some commotion at second and I took off. I was just trying to be heads up. It felt good to get an early run for a change."

After the first inning, Palisades didn't have another baserunner against Southern Lehigh sophomore Katie Tankred until the seventh.

An error, a sacrifice bunt, a groundout and a wild pitch scored Stacey Hanisak to make it 2-0.

Taylor Rundatz later singled for just Palisades' second hit off Tankred. It didn't lead to another run, but it didn't matter for Morrone, who finished off Southern Lehigh on just 89 pitches.

It was a disappointing ending for the Spartans.

"Our kids have seen that pitching, and faster, for the last two weeks," said Southern Lehigh coach Brian Neefe. "We were embarrassing at the plate today. I'm not taking anything away from [Morrone]. She's one of the best around. I don't know what it was. It was like we were intimidated, not by them, but by the game. But we have a young team and we expect to be back."

Southern Lehigh finished 16-8.

Southern Lehigh 000 000 0 -- 0 4 1

Palisades 100 001 0 -- 2 2 0

Tankred and Wilson; Morrone and Sadow.

FROM KEITH GROLLER