The state softball tournament begins Monday with three Lehigh Valley teams in the mix. <\/p>\n
As usual, Patriots Park will be a prominent location as it will host District 11 champions Liberty and Bangor in a doubleheader, while Parkland heads to Methaction High School in Montgomery County to begin its PIAA journey. <\/p>\n
Here's a look at the games involved the Hurricanes, Trojans and Slaters: <\/p>\n
PIAA 6A FIRST ROUND GAMES <\/p>\n
Liberty (Dist. 11 champ) vs. Penn Manor (Dist. 3, No. 2) <\/p>\n
When\/where: 1 p.m. Patriots Park, Allentown. <\/p>\n
At stake: A berth in Thursday's quarterfinals against either District 12 champ St. Hubert's or District 1, No. 3 Spring-Ford. <\/p>\n
LIBERTY (20-5) <\/p>\n
Coach: Sam Carrodo (third season, 51-19) <\/p>\n
Players to watch: Sr. 3B Kristin Kaleycik (.454, 26 RBIs, 30 runs, 5 HR); Sr. OF Reyna DeJesus (.421, 19 RBIs, 31 runs, 12 XBH); Sr. C Caitlin Donegan (.430, 21 RBIs, 27 runs, 10 2Bs); Sr. OF Skilee Diaz (.352, 14 RBIs, 32 runs, 8 SBs); Sr. 1B Jess Watts (.362, 28 RBIs, 12 runs, 7 XBH); Fr. P Paige Zigmund (9-2, 2.16 ERA, 81.2 IP, 47 BB, 48 Ks, 74 H). <\/p>\n
About the Hurricanes: Won the District 11 title with a 3-1 win over previously unbeaten Parkland thanks to Cailin Donegan's 2-run double in the first, an RBI hit by Mikayla Ruppert and the 5-hit pitching of Paige Zigmund. ... It was Liberty's second district title and first since 2012. ... Making first state playoff appearance since 2012 when they lost 8-1 to Central Bucks South in a first-round game at Pates Park. The 2012 Liberty team finished 20-5. <\/p>\n
PENN MANOR (23-2) <\/p>\n
Coach: Dave Stokes. <\/p>\n
Players to watch: Jr. P Brittany Hook; Jr. C Sydney Duplissey; Sr. 1B Morgan Yingling; Jr. SS Julie Tappany; Sr. OF Pam Perez; Sr. 3B Addy Long; Sr. 2B Abby Busswood. <\/p>\n
About the Comets: Lost to Chambersburg, 13-2, in the District 3 final. Chambersburg collected 18 hits and scored 10 runs in the final three three innings. Chambersburg also defeated the Comets, 1-0 in 10 innings, in the 2016 District 3 Class 4A final. ... Advanced to the district finals with a 3-2 semifinal win over Central York when Yingling had a 3-run double and Hook struck out 10 and scattered four hits. ... Penn Manor is in the state tournament for the third straight year. The Comets beat Owen J Roberts 4-0 behind Hook, before losing to Daniel Boone in the second round. Last year, they lost to Hazleton 2-1 in the first round. <\/p>\n
Keith Groller's prediction: Hook is a quality pitcher and this one won't be easy, but the Liberty offense and Zigmund have been dynamite lately. Liberty 3-2. <\/p>\n
Parkland (Dist. 11, No. 2 vs. Perk Valley (Dist. 1, No. 2) <\/p>\n
When\/where: 5 p.m. Methacton High School. <\/p>\n
At stake: A berth in Thursday's quarterfinals against either District 3 champ Chambersburg or Dist. 7 No. 2 Latrobe. <\/p>\n
PARKLAND (25-1) <\/p>\n
Coach: Barry Search (eighth season, 158-32). <\/p>\n
Players to watch: Sr. P Aubree Fritzinger (20-1, 0.95 ERA, 132 IP, 84 H, 68 K, 12 BB; .368 BA, 28 H, 9 XBH); Sr. OF Alyssa Oakley (.431, 22 R, 31 H, 4 2Bs); Jr. 3B Chelsea Morgan (.328, 22 H, 10 XBH, 23 R, 11 BB); Sr. 1B Shauna Frank (.524, 33 H, 26 RBIs, 13 XBH, 10 BB); So. DP Megan Fenstermaker (.368, 7 XBH, 15 RBIs); Jr. LF Makenzie Wolfe (.309, 17 H, 5 XBH, 11 RBIs). <\/p>\n
About the Trojans: Had a 25-game winning snapped with a 3-1 loss to Liberty in the District 11 finals. Also lost for the first time in the district finals after three consecutive wins. ... Limited to five hits by Liberty's Zigmund and left the bases loaded in one inning and stranded two in another. ... Scored just six runs in three tournament games and have scored only 11 runs in their last five games. ... Parkland reached the state semis in 2014 and won the state crown in 2015 before losing 4-3 to West Chester East in last year's first round. <\/p>\n
PERK VALLEY (21-5) <\/p>\n
Coach: Dan McLaughlin. <\/p>\n
Players to watch: Sr. P Abby Wild (20-3, 0.88 ERA, 150.1 IP, 230 K, 42 BB, 57 H; .310, 7 XBH); So. INF Ashley Bangert (.397, 31 H, 23 RBIs); Fr. OF Sela Fusco (.544, 31 H, 19 runs, 15 RBIs); Sr. OF Gillian Barrie(.447, 38 H, 27 runs). <\/p>\n
About the Vikings: Rely heavily on the Bloomsburg-bound Wild, one of the few returning starters from a District One title team in 2016. ... Lost to Avon Grove 3-0 in the district finals after beating Avon Grove in the 2015 semis and 2016 district finals. ... Wild gave up eight hits, walked two and struck out seven in the finals. ... In 2015, defeated Archbishop Ryan 6-2 in the first round of the state tournament before losing to Parkland 5-3 in the quarterfinals at Lyons. Last year, beat Dallastown 10-2 in the first round before falling to Hazleton 7-3 in the quarterfinals. <\/p>\n
Keith Groller's prediction: An experienced, hard-throwing pitcher like Wild is not the best antidote for a struggling Parkland offense. Perk Valley 2-1. <\/p>\n
PIAA 4A FIRST-ROUND GAMEBangor (Dist. 11 champ) vs. Wyoming Area (Dist. 2, No. 2) <\/p>\n
When\/where: 3:30 p.m. Monday at Patriots Park, Allentown <\/p>\n
At stake: A berth in Thursday's quarterfinals against either District One champ Upper Perk or Dist. 3 No. 3 East Pennsboro. <\/p>\n
BANGOR (23-1) <\/p>\n
Coach: Rich Kessler (fourth season, 79-18). <\/p>\n
Players to watch: Sr. 1B Dani Fey (.658, 48 H, 36 R, 21 XBH, 5 HRs, 46 RBIs, 15 SB); Sr. CF CiCi Holmqvist (.538, 43 H, 36 R, 17 XBH, 29 RBIs, 11 SB); Sr. C Kaitlyn Caleen (.458, 33 H, 16 XBH, 31RBIs); Sr. OF Nikki Kessler (.500, 40 H, 33 runs, 8 2Bs); Sr. P Danielle Gannon (15-1, 91 IP, 3.07 ERA, 91 H, 44 K, 24 BB). <\/p>\n
About the Slaters: Won second straight district title and third overall with a 5-1 win Tamaqua. ... Have won 20 straight games after a 14-4 loss to Palmerton on Apirl 8. ... Penn State-bound Fey has more than 100 hits and 100 RBIs in her career. Caleen, Holmqvist and Lexi Kessler all have more than 100 hits in their careers. ... Defeated Jersey Shore 10-2 in the first round of last year's state tournament, then lost to Lampeter-Strasburg 8-2 in the quarterfinals. ... Lost to Garnet Valley 4-0 in the first round of the 2008 PIAA 4A tournament. <\/p>\n
WYOMING AREA (9-7) <\/p>\n
Coach: John McNeil. <\/p>\n
Players to watch: Jr. G Gwen Glatz (8-6, 73.2 IP, 35 IP, 24 BB, 45 K); Jr. Kristi Skok (.387, 17 RBIs, 8 XBH); Fr. Nicole Silinskie (.300); Jr. Jess Parente (.368, 25 H, 10 RBIs); Fr. Kari Melberger (.321, 18 H); Fr. IF Bri Pizzano (.290). <\/p>\n
About the Warriors: In the state tournament for the first time since 1981 when they reached the state semis. ... Lost to Tunkhannock 3-0 in the District 2 finals, getting just three hits two singles by Kari Melberger and one from Jess Parente. ... Don't have a senior on the roster. <\/p>\n
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Excerpt from: <\/p>\n
Previews of the Liberty, Parkland and Bangor state playoff games - Allentown Morning Call<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The state softball tournament begins Monday with three Lehigh Valley teams in the mix. As usual, Patriots Park will be a prominent location as it will host District 11 champions Liberty and Bangor in a doubleheader, while Parkland heads to Methaction High School in Montgomery County to begin its PIAA journey. Continue reading