Pennsylvania: Prep softball wins first league title since 2001

It’s been almost nine years since Scranton Prep softball had claimed a league championship.

Sunday, the Lady Cavaliers changed all of that. Pitcher Kathryn Santoli had a key double play with the bases loaded as Scranton Prep edged past Delaware Valley 2-0 to capture a Lackawanna League Division I championship, the Scranton Times-Tribune reported.

"I’ve never felt anything like this before," Santoli told the newspaper. "I took it like any other game. I didn’t want to make it any bigger than it was."

The win was also important in other terms, as well, as Prep clinched the No. 2 seed in the upcoming District 2 Class AAA playoffs behind Tunkhannock. Getting out of the bases-loaded situation in the third with a double play was a huge spark for Prep, which scored its two runs in the fifth inning.

"That easily could have broken it open," Prep manager Bernie Kozlowski told the Times-Tribune. "That’s one of our pre-game drills, that double play to home and first. We do it every day. It was routine."

The runs in the fifth scored on an infield single by Bethy Aston and Katie Caudullo’s second hit of the game, the paper reported.

"It was the best feeling ever," Aston told the newspaper. "We wanted this so bad and we worked so hard in the offseason for this. I think we deserved it."

Scranton Prep opens the playoffs against No. 15 seed Holy Redeemer. Delaware Valley, a Quad-A team, has a bye to the semifinals and will face the winner of Scranton and Wyoming Valley West.

2. Koch bests Panthers again: On a day where Jersey Shore honored its four seniors, Brooke Koch and her classmates took another step toward a district title. This time, it was the pitcher holding four-time District 4 Class AAA champ Milton to two hits, while fanning 13, as the Lady Bulldogs won 1-0. Shore, 16-1 on the season, scored its lone run in the first when Chelsea Cummings, after being struck with a pitch, went around the horn on a throwing error by Milton’s shortstop. The Lady Black Panthers’ best chance to score came in the visitor’s half of the seventh when Madison Krebs blasted a leadoff triple, but was left standing on the base.

3. Central Mountain claims Mountain League title: For the second straight year, the Central Mountain (Mill Hall) baseball team has captured a Mountain League Allegheny Division title. The Wildcats won their final three games, the latter being a 16-3, six-inning victory over Indian Valley, to take sole possession of the crown. Lewistown, which has gone on a massive run in the final month of the regular season, was edged out by one game. Against Indian Valley, junior pitcher Trey Stover was effective – throwing a three-run two-hitter with eight strikeouts and five walks. Senior Scott Zuback had three hits – two doubles and a home run – while freshman Von Walker had a grand slam and senior Colten Stover added a two-run homer. Central Mountain will enter the District 6 Class AAAA playoffs as the No. 4 seed.

4. Bellefonte tops BEA in softball: For the first time in three years, the Bellefonte Lady Raiders tasted victory against its Centre County rival Bald Eagle Area. Senior Emily Dauberman tossed a complete-game four-hitter and classmate Danielle Gomola had three hits in Bellefonte’s 5-0 victory. The Lady Raiders, 17-2 on the season, lost to BEA 11-1 in five innings earlier this year. "To the seniors, it's everything," Dauberman said. "We have been playing together our entire lives, and Bald Eagle has always been our biggest rival. They've always just been there. Ever since our freshman year, we haven't been able to beat them. Having this happen is amazing. I just went into the game trying to be as relaxed as possible knowing that my defense was going to be there. I never thought anything like this would happen." Bellefonte is the top seed entering the District VI Class AAA playoffs, while BEA is the No. 2 seed behind Philipsburg-Osceola.

Abington Heights catcher Katie Stevens went 3 for 4, missing the cycle by a triple, and drove in seven runs as the Comets beat Wallenpaupack, 9-2, the Scranton Times-Tribune reported.

Delaware Valley leadoff hitter Mike Accardi had one hit, but it was a big one – an RBI single in the fifth inning to pace the Warriors past Scranton High, 1-0, the Times-Tribune reported.

Altoona’s Brady Gehret ran a 46.3-second time in the 400 meters at the District 6 Class AAA track and field championships. His time is the fastest posted in the nation this season. He has signed a letter of intent for Penn State.

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