DISTRICT IV SOFTBALL TITLE GAMES PREVIEW (2021-06-02)

Northern Tier Sports Report
Two locals teams will be battling for District IV softball titles Thursday - weather permitting - and it will be different match-ups for each. 

Wyalusing will be looking to get revenge against Line Mountain, who topped them for the Class AA title two years ago. NEB faces off against one of the top pitchers in the district, regardless of class, when they face Montgomery in the Class A title game.

CLASS AA

Wyalusing (12-8) vs Line Mountain (18-3), at Elm Park, 4:30 p.m.: This is a game the Rams have wanted since they lost to Line Mountain two years ago, and now they have it. It won’t be easy, though, as Line Mountain is the top seed for a reason. 

The Eagles are the Tri-Valley Champions, and boast wins over Selinsgrove (2-1, 10 innings), Milton (10-0), and swept playoff semifinalist East Juniata (14-0, 1-0). 

They were tough in a 4-1 loss to Shikellamy, and struggled against state power Williams Valley (14-5).

Kya Matter leads them both in the circle, and at the plate. She has a 1.68 ERA on the season, with 104 strikeouts to just six walks, 19 hits, and 12 earned runs. 

At the plater, Matter has a .564 average, with eight home runs, four doubles, two triples, and 14 runs batted in.

After her, though, their averages take a dip. Brooke Novinger is the only other regular Line Mountain player with a batting average over .250 at .294. She has one home run, and two doubles.

As a team they have 11 home run, drew 32 walks, and struck out 87 times.

The Rams have four players hitting over .300, led by Hailey Jayne’s .388 average. She has 11 doubles, and 23 RBIs. Danella Cornell is next at .320, with three doubles, and 15-RBIs, followed by London Edwards’s average of .314, with three doubles, and eight RBIs, and Jenelle Johns’ .306 average, with four home runs, five doubles, and two triple, plus 25-RBIs.

Lead-off batter Laci Norton is at .283 with five doubles.

Jayne leads the team in the circle, with a 1.71 ERA as she has 159 strikeouts, 29 earned runs, and 18 walks.

Wyalusing struggled to hit Matter the last time these two faced off back in 2019, but, after having seen her once, they know what to expect this time around. That’s the only time this group of Wyalusing seniors have lost in districts, so they’ll be looking to return the favor.

CLASS A

Montgomery (20-1) vs Northeast Bradford (15-0), at Elm Park, 4:30 p.m.: These fans are about to see what happens when an unstoppable force meets and unmovable object. The two teams are a combined 35-1, so it doesn’t get much better for playoff softball.

Montgomery’s only loss was 4-2 to Jersey Shore, as they boast impressive wins over softball power programs Williams Valley (3-2), Central Columbia (2-0), and Wyalusing (3-0). They also swept Bucktail, and Muncy, two playoff teams, this year.

The Mid-Penn Champions are led by Faith Persing, who is 16-1 on the year, and boasts an 0.64 ERA. She has struck out 206 batters, to just 10 walks, 27 hits, and nine earned runs.

She leads the Red Raiders at the plate, with a .458 average, to go with six home runs, four triples, two doubles, and 23-RBIs.

Brynn McRae is next on the team with a .382 average, to go with three triples, six doubles, and 18-RBIs, while Jenna Waring hits .333 with one homer, two doubles, and 14-RBIs. Samantha Ulrich is also over .300 at .325, with four doubles, and 19-RBIs.

Other formidable hitters are Shelby McRae, who is batting .282 with one home run, one triple, two doubles, and 8-RBIs, and Taylor McRae at .254, with three home runs, four doubles, and 18-RBIs.

They have 11 home runs on the season, with 79 walks, and 89 strikeouts.

NEB is led by Thailey Franklin in the circle, who has an ERA of 1.16. She’s been undefeated in her varsity career, with 133 strikeouts against 12 walks, 48 hits, and 16 earned runs.

At the plate Emily Susanj is batting .510, with five doubles, a homer, and 19-RBIs, while lead-off Kayleigh Thoman is hitting .500 with two doubles, and a team leading 21 runs scored.

Clean-up hitter Maisie Neuber sports a .404 average, with three home runs, two triples, and six doubles to go with a team leading 21-RBIs. Franklin is hitting .375 with four doubles, three triples, and 6-RBI.

Most of their line-up is hitting over .300, including Julianna Susanj (.357), Ciana Frisbie (.339), Mikayla Post (.353), and Melanie Shumway (.316). Susanj also has three home runs.

This will be the best pitching they’ve faced all season, but the Panthers are built for playoff softball with their combination of speed, power, and skill at the plate.

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There is one wildcard for both teams, and that’s Mother Nature.

Rain pushed the semifinals from last Friday to this past Tuesday, and it’s a good bet that it will force the games to move once again.

Thursday looks wet all day, this time with thunderstorms, and Friday is only slightly better. 

Saturday is sunny - with a high near 90.