HS SOFTBALL NOTEBOOK: League races start to take shape

Bob Lipsky, Republican & Herald, Pottsville, Pa.
·5 min read

Apr. 22—So many new names. So many new faces.

From the end of the 2019 season to the beginning of the 2021 season, two groups of senior classes graduated and moved into adult life.

Those losses created opportunities for a slew of players who had no varsity experience before this season. Those changes also made predicting which teams would rise to the top of area softball a guess at best.

After crisscrossing the area, from Hometown to Tower City, from Shenandoah to Orwigsburg, and seeing 16 of the 20 local teams in action, the outlook has become clearer. Let's take a look where we stand as the halfway point of the season approaches.

—Division I of the Schuylkill League has turned into a three-team race for the two league playoff spots. Blue Mountain (5-2, 4-1) and North Schuylkill (6-3, 4-1) share the division lead, with Pine Grove (7-3, 4-2) just a half-game back. Blue Mountain beat Pine Grove but lost to North Schuylkill; the Spartans also defeated the Cardinals but dropped their league opener to Tamaqua. Pottsville and Tamaqua are both 1 1/2 games back and will have to get on a hot streak to take one of the league playoff spots.

—Division II is, well, Division II — one of the toughest small-school divisions you'll find anywhere.

Somewhat of a surprise is that Tri-Valley (8-0, 3-0) has started so strongly. But the Dawgs, who start just one senior, are getting good pitching from junior Sydney Schley and sophomore Emma Maurer, and sophomore Gianna Poletti has been clubbing the ball all season.

That season, however, got paused this week by COVID-19 concerns. The same thing happened at Nativity, creating an uncertain future for both teams.

Williams Valley (6-0, 2-0) had its own COVID-19 delay, but the Vikings are quickly catching up. Their front-line players are as good as ever as Emma Crisswell gave up one run last week in wins over Nativity, Halifax and Upper Dauphin. The Vikes have a fine No. 2 pitcher in Lainie Shoop and have scored in double figures in every game this season.

The remaining schedule is stacked with games almost every day, but Williams Valley has won five of its games by the 10- or 15-run rule. So, instead of playing 42 innings in six games, the Vikes have played just 32. That will save their pitching and keep them fresh for the big games to come.

Minersville has been up and down this season but is just a half-game behind the Dawgs. In a four-day span, the Miners routed Nativity 13-0, lost 4-0 to Tri-Valley and pounded Bristol 15-1. They also lost to Pottsville last Saturday. They'll need to be more consistent during the second half of the season to have a chance to knock off the Dawgs and Vikes.

—In Division III, Marian (6-0, 4-0) survived a marathon Monday, rallying past Weatherly 12-11 on the Fillies' home field. Both teams will have to improve their defense dramatically to be able to compete with the rest of the league.

—In the Tri-Valley League, Upper Dauphin leads the way with a 6-1 league record. East Juniata (4-1) and Line Mountain (4-1) are a game back, followed closely by Halifax (3-1). The TVL will begin the second half of its season next week.

—In the Berks League, Hamburg (9-1, 3-1 Berks II) is having a strong season. The Hawks' only loss was a 5-1 setback to Berks II leader Twin Valley (6-0, 3-0).

Tournament time

Earlier this season, Tri-Valley won the Halifax Tournament and Pine Grove finished second at its Cardinal Classic.

This weekend, three more teams will head to tournament action.

The Blue Mountain Tournament will be held Saturday at Patton Field. The host Eagles will take on Minersville at 11 a.m., followed by Brandywine Heights against Hazleton Area at 1 p.m. The consolation game will be at 3 p.m., with the championship at 5 p.m.

At the Williamsport Tournament, Upper Dauphin will take part in a two-day, high-powered, eight-team event.

In Friday's quarterfinals, UDA will take on Delaware Valley, a Class 6A school from District 2. Other matchups have Lower Dauphin facing Montoursville, Loyalsock playing Wyalusing and host Williamsport going up against Mifflinburg.

The teams will play twice Saturday to determine a champion and the places of the others.

The Millionaires are off to a great start, defeating Tunkhannock, State College, Punxsutawney, Shikellamy and Bald Eagle Area, all excellent teams.

Area leaders

We ask teams to provide official statistics at the end of the season, but we compile some unofficial stats along the way as well.

Here are some of the top performers though Wednesday's games, based on results reported to The Republican-Herald:

—Doubles — Lillian Barra, Pine Grove, 7; Amanda Colecio, Weatherly, 6; Jersey-Lynn Cook, Pottsville, 6; Kylah Reading, Hamburg, 5; Gianna Poletti, Tri-Valley, 5; Lexi Snyder, Tri-Valley, 5

—Triples — Haley Gravish, Hamburg, 7; Alise Heisey, Marian, 4; Gianna Poletti, Tri-Valley, 3; Hailey Strunk, Hamburg, 3; Alyssa Myers, Lehighton, 3

—Home runs — Haley Gravish, Hamburg, 4; Maddin Grow, Upper Dauphin, 3; Lainie Shoop, Williams Valley, 3; Helena Polinsky, Nativity, 3; Bryn Russian, Blue Mountain, 3

—Pitching wins — Haley Gravish, Hamburg, 7; Megan Wolfe, Pine Grove, 7; Morgan Kelly, Marian, 6; Maddie Von Frisch, Weatherly, 6; Aramie Arroyo, Minersville, 5; Morgan Dinger, North Schuylkill, 5

Power Poll

Records through Tuesday's games

Team W-L Pvs

1. Williams Valley 6-0 —

2. Tri-Valley 8-0 —

3. Hamburg 9-1 —

4. North Schuylkill 6-3 —

5. Blue Mountain 5-2 —

6. Pine Grove 7-3 —

7. Pottsville 4-4 —

8. Upper Dauphin 6-2 —

9. Minersville 5-3 —

10. Nativity 5-3 —

— Compiled by Bob Lipsky

(Lipsky is the softball beat writer for The Republican Herald. Contact the writer: blipsky@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6012: @boblipskyRH on Twitter.)