District 11 softball: Semifinal recap; Championship game predictions

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Big, big night for our area's pitchers in the District 11 softball semifinals.

I had the 4A semis at Pates where Northampton's Marly Laubach and Liberty's Lauren Epsaro were solid in posting hard-fought victories. Here's the link to that story and the pictures:http://www.mcall.com/sports/varsity/mc-district11-4asoftball-semifinals-20130529,0,6765161.story 

In Class 3A, Bethlehem Catholic's Joelle Morey tossed a four-hit shuotut in a 7-0 win over Wilson. The Golden Hawks got plenty of offense from Emily Brandstetter and Lauren Visconti, who had three hits apiece and from Jean Markovic, who had two hits, including a triple and knocked in two runs.

In the other 3A game, Palmerton freshman Kendra Pekurny bounced back from a rough outing in the Colonial League semis to pitch a three-hit shutout in the Blue Bombers' 3-0 win over Southern Lehigh. Pekurny struck out seven and Sam Doherty knocked in two of the three Palmerton runs.

In Class 2A, Catasauqua sophomore Lexi Ayache pitched her second consecutive postseason shutout in the Roughies' 3-0 win ove North Schuylkill. The amazing Roughies, the Colonial League champs, are in the district finals for the first time. Catty had just five hits, but took advantage of some North Schuylkill lapses.

According to the Pottsville Republican story, Catasauqua scored a run without a hit in bottom of the second inning when Jordan Dardos led off with a walk, stole second base, then took advantage of two wild pitches to come across.

Then in the fourth inning, Paige Kogelman led off with a bloop single to right field to start a two-run rally. Kogelman advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Janae Matos. Kogenlman then went all the third on an error. Dardos was hit by pitch to put runners on first and third before Kogelman scored on Shea O'Brien's grounder to second.

Ayache followed with a bloop single to left before Amary Moten plated the third and final run with a single to center.

In the other 2A game, Pen Argyl, so disappointed in losing the Colonial League title game, bounced back in a big way behind Emily Smull for a 2-1 nine-inning win over a very good Pine Grove team. Smull allowed just three hits over the final eight innings.

All of the scoring came after seven scoreless innings. Pen Argyl won despite 13 strikeouts by Pine Grove pitcher Ethel Santai.

Again from the Pottsville Republican, the Green Knights scored in the eighth inning when leadoff batter Laura Zanette and Smull had back-to-back singles. Zanette scored on an error on Smull's hit.

Pine Grove had second and third with no out out in the bottom of the eighth, but scored just one run.

Then in the ninth, Rachel Warren's two-out single delivered what proved to be the game-winning run.

TONIGHT'S PREDICTIONS:

Class 4A: Northampton 4, Liberty 1: The Konkrete Kids offense has more ability than it is showing. I don't know who's pitching for the Hurricames, but if the the K-Kids are going to get their first district title since 1996 they must take the pressure off Marly Laubach and score some runs. Liberty's offense is explosive Mariah Kondravy is on fire. But Northampton has had an extraordinary season and it's hard to envision the K-Kids not coming away with one championship.

Class 3A: Becahi 6, Palmerton 2: The Golden Hawks must caution against overconfidence. Becahi is a heavy favorite here, but the Blue Bombers seem to have to their act together after a horrid performance at Pates in the Colonial League semis. Palmerton is spunky and determined, but the Golden Hawks have a huge edge in experience. Northampton and Becahi have been the area's best teams all season. It's a shame, in a way, that we never got to see them play for the LVC championship. It could have been a classic. However, they can share the same Pates Park stage tonight with district championships.

Class 2A: Pen Argyl 3, Catasauqua 2: The Roughies, I am sure, are positively delighted that I am picking against them again. They have used my doubt as motivational fuel. And the Green Knights are probably upset that I picked them again, just as I did in the Colonial League final. Catty has defied the odds all season and has recorded an amazing story that I never saw coming. But Pen Argyl was supposed to be the CL's best back in March and it's hard for me to imagine the Green Knights, much like Northampton, not coming away with at least one championship. It's rare that you get a second chance in high school sports. Let's see what Pen Argyl does with theirs.This one might be the best game of the night, Parkland should be packed.