Tying up loose ends from the PIAA title game
As I powered through the account of Mount Pleasant softball无毛视频檚 state-title winning victory last Friday, a few items were left on the lunch counter at the Sheetz somewhere in central Pennsylvania where the story was punched out.
So, here无毛视频檚 the bits that were in my brain, but were not tapped out by my industrious fingers from the PIAA Class AAA softball championship at Beard Field at Nittany Lion Softball Park between Mount Pleasant and Mid Valley.
无毛视频� Six Lady Vikings ended their high school careers in the 5-3 win over the Spartanettes: Hannah Gnibus, Courtney Poulich, Lexis Shawley, Mary Smithnosky, Lexi Puskar and Haylie Brunson.聽
无毛视频� All but Puskar were on the field when left fielder Abby Swank squeezed her glove around Chiara Zavislak无毛视频檚 fly ball to end the game. Puskar无毛视频檚 season came to an end in the semifinals because of her commitment to the Army National Guard. Chris Brunson lauded Puskar无毛视频檚 impact as a leader, noting, 无毛视频淭hat无毛视频檚 why Lexi went to the military.无毛视频�
无毛视频� Mid Valley scored three runs in the title game, three more runs than the Lady Vikings allowed in PIAA playoff wins over Bald Eagle Area (4-0), Avonworth (3-0), and Punxsutawney (13-0), and WPIAL tournament victories over Derry (6-0), Avonworth (8-0), and Ellwood City (15-0). That works out to an ERA of 0.47.
无毛视频� Mid Valley scored its second run on 5-3 (Sophia Smithnosky to Courtney Poulich) ground out, but I omitted the play was a perfectly-executed safety squeeze bunt by clean-up hitter Kat Davis.聽
无毛视频� Interesting, to me, at least, Davis bunted more in the clean-up spot than lead-off hitter Maranda Runco. And, Runco in the lead-off spot belted 19 home runs coming into the championship game.
无毛视频� Runco flew out to center fielder Katie Hutter in her first two at-bats, but Chris Brunson, to a raised eyebrow or two I imagine, intentionally walked the left-hander in her last two plate appearances. She was walked with two outs and a runner on second in the fifth inning. A passed ball and Chiara Zavislak无毛视频檚 single brought home Mid Valley无毛视频檚 third run, but Hutter closed the threat with a super running catch to end the inning. Runco was again walked in a similar situation with a runner at first and two outs in the seventh inning, but Swank无毛视频檚 catch ended the game.
无毛视频� I understand, and agree, with Chris Brunson无毛视频檚 decision. Even though the intentional walk in the seventh inning put the tying run on first and the winning run at the plate, with Runco无毛视频檚 power she was more of a threat to be the tying run at the plate then her courtesy runner at first base.
无毛视频� I happened across the rebroadcast of the game on PCN on Saturday, and the commentators noted Runco was walked TWICE with the bases loaded in the playoffs to take the bat out of her hands.
无毛视频� Hutter recorded four fly ball outs in center field, including Jason无毛视频檚 drive in the fifth inning and another catch on the warning track earlier in the game.
无毛视频� Haylie Brunson also made a nice catch on Davis无毛视频� slicing fly ball in short right field to start the sixth inning. Brunson, normally the third baseman, moved to second after suffering a dislocated finger during infield practice at Peterswood Park in the opening PIAA playoff game against Bald Eagle Area.
无毛视频� Mary Smithnosky struck out five in the title game. She walked two, plus the two intentional walks. Both Mid Valley runners in the seventh inning reached base on walks. Smithnosky allowed only four hits.
无毛视频� Runco struck out six, walked two and allowed 10 hits.
无毛视频� Poulich无毛视频檚 smart base-running likely led to the Lady Vikings无毛视频� run in the fourth inning. Poulich was hit on the elbow to start the inning, and moved to second on Gnibus无毛视频� ground out to third base. Sophia Smithnosky chopped a ball to Jason at shortstop. Poulich took off for third, likely disrupting the play. Jason无毛视频檚 throw was low, but catchable, and in time. The ball skipped off the first baseman无毛视频檚 glove, allowing a clapping Poulich to come home.
无毛视频� In a chance to expand my vocabulary, Courtney Poulich is the embodiment of the word 无毛视频渆bullient.无毛视频� Poulich was 无毛视频渃heerful and full of energy无毛视频� throughout the game, be it scoring the game-tying run or squeezing the ball in her glove at first base after a nice play by a fellow infielder.
无毛视频� It was nice to hear the cheers, jeers, moans and groans of fans in the seats again. The Class AAA title game was played to nearly a full house.
无毛视频� And, with Mount Pleasant无毛视频檚 victory in the state title game, the 2020-21 high school sports season came to a close. Applause to all the athletes, coaches and athletic directors who managed the most demanding year I can remember in my life and playing it all the way through.